Mope is an anagram of Poem, and often is moping found in poetry as writers drench their verse with troubles and tears. Not so with Peter Howarth, the Castleisland poet who claims to be an untitled cousin-of-sorts to King Charles III of England. His verse is laced with subtle humour, as this seasonal stanza from…… Continue Reading
Bricks and Breeding: A Sketch of Ballymacadam House, Castleisland
Ballymacadam House belongs to the eighteenth century, described as the mansion house of the Marshall Estate ‘built and inhabited by the celebrated Ralf Marshal.’ In 1799, Ralph Marshall of Ballymacadam, known also as Don Radolph Marshall, married into the Markham family of Callinafercy, Milltown, Co Kerry where he took up residence soon after his marriage.…… Continue Reading
Calling California: Castleisland Reaches Out to Donovan Descendants
Castleisland historian T M Donovan had much to say about his home town, and his Popular History of East Kerry remains a valuable resource for researchers of Castleisland in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His name appeared frequently in the columns of the local press on all matters of history but he was also…… Continue Reading
Topographical Survey of Castleisland in 1942
In 1942, John J Quinlan carried out a number of topographical surveys in Kerry for the Irish Tourist Association.[1] It included topography, geology, historic houses, churches, holy wells, mass rocks and burial places, spas and mineral springs, customs and patterns.[2] The survey, a very useful source for the social historian, included pastimes like angling…… Continue Reading
Buried in Oblivion: ‘Unknown Scholars’ from Castleisland
In 1935, a youthful John Francis (‘Jack’) MacMahon (1908-1963), son of Patrick MacMahon and Kilkenny-born school teacher Joanna (née Caughlin) MacMahon, and brother of playwright Bryan MacMahon (1909-1998), sought information from the public about old Gaelic poets from Kerry.[1] He explained that he had been studying and annotating poetry of 18th and 19th century…… Continue Reading
Scartaglin, December 1923: A Month of Tragedy
‘If you shall take me into your service I shall do all in my power to do my duty faithfully and well’ – James Woods to the Irish Civic Guards, 25 October 1922 From the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty at 2.30am on the morning of Tuesday December 6th 1921, up until the official end…… Continue Reading
Patrick Buckley, Castleisland: Setting the Genealogy Record Straight
Castleisland District Heritage has recently acquired a number of articles published in the Garda Review relating to the family of Patrick Buckley, a victim of the Ballyseedy Massacre of 1923, and his wife Delia.[1] This donation coincided with a query from a family in the UK about Buckley ancestry, notably Mary Julia Buckley, daughter of…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Co-Op Mart 1957 to 2023
Castleisland Mart stands within a stone’s throw of the offices of Castleisland District Heritage. John Roche, Chairman of Castleisland District Heritage, is one of its founding members and has been asked to place on record a sketch of its formation. Only those of us 75 and over have a memory of rural Ireland…… Continue Reading
An Poc Sídhe: A Tale from the Fairy Forts for Halloween
On high cliffs above the Atlantic sea, The genius of thy country came to thee. One sacred object still before thy view, For hapless Erin some great deed to do. – ‘O’Connell’ by Ellen O’Connell Fitz-Simon[1] Halloween is upon us and to celebrate, we present a folktale about fairy forts from the abundance of material…… Continue Reading
Hands Up For History: O’Connell and Davis on the Importance of Heritage
‘Art is your proper friend’ – Thomas Davis Castleisland District Heritage has received notification of grant aid from Kerry County Council’s Community Enhancement and Community Support funds (Department of Rural and Community Development). The funding is timely and has enabled the purchase of office equipment to continue recording and communicating the history and heritage of…… Continue Reading