‘Rack-rents, insecurity of tenure, ejectment and extermination, these are the master-grievances of unhappy Ireland’ – Rev P O’B Davern Iconic actor, Robert De Niro, who is currently researching his Irish roots, might well be interested in The Young Irelanders, a rare book recently acquired by Castleisland District Heritage. It was written by the Kerry-educated journalist,…… Continue Reading
Con Houlihan behind Local Cabinet Decision
John Roche, Chairman of Castleisland District Heritage, recently visited Walter Lyons Furniture in Tralee and made a firm deal on the purchase of three secure metal cabinets for rapid delivery to the project offices in Castleisland. The purchase came about following the acquisition of papers and artefacts belonging to the late and great journalist,…… Continue Reading
Kilnananima: A Grave Legend of Gerald, Earl of Desmond
Gerald, The Rebel Earl of Desmond, was beheaded in 1583 thus signalling the fall of the great Earls of Desmond in Munster. His troubled soul in ghostly form was said to haunt his grave at Ardnagragh where once stood the principal stronghold of the Fitzgeralds.[1] Legends of the life and times of the Earls…… Continue Reading
Kilmurry House, Castleisland in the Nineteenth Century
‘A fascinating house of indeterminate origins’[1] Kilmurry House, located a few miles from the town of Castleisland in the parish of Ballincuslane, was built about 1839 by Rev Archibald Macintosh as a Church of Ireland rectory.[2] This three-storey dwelling, with entrance set on the side, basement, four bays on south front, and hipped roof,…… Continue Reading
Honouring Bob Finn, Captain of the Castleisland Moonlighters
‘The Moonlighters were the first that put hope into the nation’ – Memoir of Jerry Lyons, 1951 Castleisland District Heritage this week (19 July 2023) pays homage to Bob Finn, Captain of the Castleisland Moonlighters, at a Grave Renewal Ceremony in Old Kilbannivane Cemetery, Castleisland. The historic memorial has been refurbished, with substantial financial…… Continue Reading
‘Intensely Irish’: Probing a Kerry Claim on Celebrity Minstrel Denis O’Sullivan
He came to Ireland with a concert party in the flush of his great success and sang from Cork to Portrush some of our loveliest melodies as, without exaggeration, they were never sung before In 1901, American tenor and actor Denis O’Sullivan, described as ‘intensely Irish,’ was approaching his zenith, wowing audiences with his baritone…… Continue Reading
Specs on! A Close Look at The Kerryman Calendar of 1934
In January 1934, The Kerryman issued a ‘pictorial almanac,’ described as an introduction to some of their special correspondents who helped to make the newspaper ‘so widely popular.’[1] It was printed on art paper at the Kerryman printing works in The Market and Russell Street, Tralee: These contributors are already well-known by repute to…… Continue Reading
Search for family of Edward Victor Twiss, Captain of the Royal Munster Fusiliers
Castleisland District Heritage has been contacted by Liam Brophy who has in his possession a photograph of Edward Victor Twiss whose family descended from Kerry. Liam found the image among the papers of his great great grandfather ‘Jack,’ otherwise John Thomas Greeves O’Sullivan of the 6th Connaught Rangers. Information on the back of the photograph…… Continue Reading
Cottage and Castle: Sizing up History at Coolcurtoga
Flesk Castle, Killarney dates to circa 1809.[1] Its origins are associated with the Coltsmann family, butter merchants of Northumberland stock, who established themselves in Kerry as landlords.[2] Its construction is attributed to John Coltsmann junior Esq, the only son of John Coltsmann Esq of London and Killarney. His achievement was described in an obituary composed…… Continue Reading
Daniel O’Connell on the Protestant Church in Kerry
Past West Cove, the road carries one down to the village of Cahirdaniel. Nestling in its woods under the towering hills, and beside a stretch of golden strand where the Atlantic flings its wrecks unchecked, lies the home of O’Connell. Derrynane! Truly a home for a chief[1] ‘There is an old proverb,’ wrote O’Connell in…… Continue Reading