A recent donation to the archives of Castleisland District Heritage recalls the fifty-year history of Pensher Fire Brick Works in Durham. The donation, a firebrick from one of the limekilns of local man, Davy O’Connor of Ballymacadam, is stamped ‘NOBLE.’ He believes the bricks may have come from Cork but as yet, no firebrick manufacturer…… Continue Reading
Profile of Kerry Moonlighter, Jack Hickey of Brosna
He was the last of a generation of men whose deeds of valour, honesty of purpose and souls of cheer will long live in historic old Ahane. In 1925, Jack Hickey, otherwise John L Hickey of Ahane, reminisced on his involvement with the Moonlighters: Not very many came to aid the poor Irish…… Continue Reading
Sean O’C Riada of Castleisland, ‘Mother of Sinn Fein’
The first Sinn Fein Club in East Kerry was organised in the early twentieth century by James E O’Connor, Daniel O’Mahony and Sean O’C Riada, serving the roles of chairman, treasurer and secretary respectively.[1] It was called, contemptuously, The Tailors’ Club ‘as so many of that art were involved’: The first in Castleisland…… Continue Reading
‘It is not our intention to bore you’: Some Recent Additions to Castleisland District Heritage
Scartaglin Parish News Scartaglin Parish News for the years 1977-1981 have been added to the archive of Castleisland District Heritage. The first carries a foreword by Fr John J Scanlan, CC, Scartaglin: It is the first time in the history of Scartaglin that a newssheet has been issued locally. Those who scripted it…… Continue Reading
The Lombards of Castleisland, County Kerry
A recent enquiry about the Lombard tomb at Old Kilbannivane, Castleisland revealed the long association of this name with the town. Jerry Flynn, a member of the committee of Castleisland District Heritage, has compiled data from the tomb and reports as follows: The tomb comprises approximately a 4 meter square, bottom rectangle about 3…… Continue Reading
‘Round the Houses’: In Search of the Queen’s Arms, Cahersiveen
Cahirciveen is a pretty town … the appearance of comfort which pervades it at once evinces the power of resident proprietorship In January 1866, a harrowing scene of people preparing to leave Cahersiveen appeared in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper published in New York.[1] The image was captioned ‘Irish Emigrants leaving their home for America…… Continue Reading
An Odd Addition to the Repository of Castleisland District Heritage
A sash used by the Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal society, is the latest addition to Castleisland District Heritage.[1] It is generally accepted that the Order dates to the first half of the eighteenth century though great antiquity is claimed for it.[2] This account of its origins was given at an Odd…… Continue Reading
Chasing Ghosts: Fitzgerald of Ardnagragh and Ballymacadam
When the unfortunate Earl fell at Glaunageentha it was the Fitzgeralds of Ardnagragh, faithful to the last, who stole the headless body at night from the wood and laid it in their own burial place – Mary Agnes Hickson[1] John Oge Fitzgerald was Constable of the Island of Kerry for Gerald, ‘The Rebel Earl of…… Continue Reading
The Kennys of Ballymacadam, Castleisland
By John Roche, Chairman Castleisland District Heritage Kenny first came to prominence when he was elected chairman/president of the fledgling Castleisland branch of the National Land League. This followed a monster gathering in Main Street on (date) Oct., 1880, chaired from the Crown Hotel balcony by the famous Land League priest, Fr Arthur Murphy.…… Continue Reading
Nineteenth Century Church and School Building in Brosna and Knocknagoshel
Religious practice in Brosna and Knocknagoshel from the eighteenth to early nineteenth century was outlined by Peter Robinson, a correspondent of the Kerry People, in 1903:[1] Prior to the abolition of the Penal laws, and up to 1834, Knocknagoshel had no fixed Roman Catholic place of worship and the people on Sundays assembled to…… Continue Reading