Michael O’Donohoe made a study of Castleisland Church and People, a book (now rare) written by Fr Kieran O’Shea in 1981 (reprinted 1982). Michael’s study resulted in a handwritten index to the work, transcribed below, of great use to those conducting research into the town of Castleisland and vicinity.
The book also contains a number of appendices, one of which contains a list of people from Castleisland who served in the church at home and abroad. The 11-page list, subdivided into ‘Brothers’, ‘Priests’ and ‘Sisters’, illustrates how far afield Castleislanders travelled in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
John Brosnan from Knockanebawn professed for Sioux Falls Maurice Brosnan from Tullig professed in 1923 for Melbourne Redmond Burke from Castleisland professed in 1925 for Seattle Daniel Casey from Carker professed 1925 for Port Louis Eddie O’Connor from Drumulton professed 1923 for Dakota Ned Roche from Curranes professed c1920 for Hobart Maurice Woulfe from Knockeen professed 1937 for Buffalo
It also illustrates the variety of religious orders:
Peter Flynn from Killegane professed in 1928 for Helpers of the Holy Souls Sara McSweeney from Castleisland, professed in 1911 for the Little Company of Mary Alberic Walsh from Kilmurry professed c1898 for the Sisters of Nazareth Nora Quilter from Counguilla professed in 1889 for the Marianite of the Holy Cross
Absent from this list is Madame Patricia from Ballymolire, Castleisland, professed on her death bed for the Ladies of Mary, Tavistock Road, Croydon:
One of the best-loved of the teaching staff of sisters, Madame Patricia, passed away at the young age of 25. She was regarded as a most clever teacher, having ‘passed the ordeal of several severe examinations with great credit’. She had been ailing for some time but continued working. She ailed suddenly, and received the last rites on 31 September 1898. It was her desire to make her perpetual vows before dying but a dispensation of five years had not expired. However, the Bishop of Southwark granted a dispensation and Rev Father M’Kenna received her vows, the profession cross, the ring and crown of roses. Two hours later she passed away. ‘The coffin was covered with floral souvenirs of love and regard from the pupils of the school, the boarders, Doctors Rosser and Vincent, and other friends.1
Among Fr O’Shea’s other publications, The Diocese of Kerry formerly Ardfert Working in the Fields of God provides for a useful historical sketch of the 53 parishes of the Diocese of Kerry, namely, Killarney (Episcopal See of the Diocese of Kerry), Abbeydorney, Adrigole, Allihies, Annascaul, Ardfert, Ballinskelligs, Ballybunion, Ballydesmond, Ballydonoghue, Ballyheigue, Ballyferriter, Ballylongford, Ballymacelligott, Beaufort, Boherbue, Brosna, Caherciveen, Caherdaniel, Castlegregory, Castleisland, Castlemaine, Castletownbere, Causeway, Dingle, Dromtariffe, Duagh, Eyeries, Firies, Fossa, Glenbeigh, Glenflesk, Glengarriff (Bonane), Kenmare, Kilcummin, Kilgarvan, Killeentierna, Killorglin, Knocknagoshel, Listowel, Lixnaw, Millstreet, Milltown, Moyvane, Rathmore, Sneem, Spa (Fenit), Tarbert, Tralee St John’s, Tralee Our Lady and St Brendan’s, Tuosist, Valentia, Waterville.2
The history of the diocese is traced back to pre-Patrician times and on to the times of St Brendan, who tradition allows was baptised by Bishop Erc (or Ert), the reputed first Bishop of Ardfert.3
A copy of The Diocese of Kerry formerly Ardfert Working in the Fields of God, which was launched by Bishop Murphy in the Dromhall Hotel, Killarney on Monday 24 October 2005, is held in the collection.4
Castleisland Church and People (index)
Archer, Rev Forster, Charter insp 1804 p53
Ardnagragh Castle p11
Asquith Home Rule Bill 3 1912 p42
Assizes transferred to Tralee p19
Aud scuttled off Cork 1916 p33
Atlantic passage 1878 p23
Back cover letter to Constable 1231 p7
Bacon £2 per cent cut in 1878 p23
Bad harvests 1870s p25
Bakers 1846- 1886- p23
Ballincuslane Castle p11
Ballymacadam House p60
Ballyplimoth Castle p11
Baltinglass (Sir Thomas Roper 1609-40) p14
Bank (Redmond Roche Committee 1878, schools, railway) p45
Baptisms p18
Barracks pp16-21
Bateman John p39
Beef p23
Biggar Joseph MP p25
Bishop Daniel McCarthy p24
Bishop Wm Sherwood Meath p11
Blennerhasset John proprietor 1733 p16
Brandon Lord p53
Brass and reed band p24
Bridewell and courthouse p21
Bridge JC Playdell 1774 p17
Brosnan C M p60
Browne Mrs Kathleen librarian p6
Buachailt na Calach p19
Butter Market p23
Browne Archdeacon John PP 1936-54 p52
Cahill Katie Librarian p60
Callaghan Dan p27-8
Captain Moonlight Bob Finn p27
Carnegie Library p60
Carter and Davelle Tralee Inn 1579 p12
Casement Roger p33
Casey Archdeacon p61
Casey Timothy p18
Castlegregory p13
Castleisland Castle pp9-18
Castleisland Railway p23
Castleisland v Coole GAA p29
Castlemayne Castle p12
Catholics in 1686 p16
Causeway Church p17-19
Census p15
Charter School pp17 & 53-54
Churches p38
Church of St Nicholas p38
Church Building Committee p45
Chutes Tullig House p61
Circus pp24-27 & 18
Civil War p34
Clifford D W p30
Collins Michael p34
Confessions Stations p18
Constables p64
Convent p40
Coole v Castleisland p29
Cordal Church p51
Costello Lieut Col Con p3
Cotterill hanged drawn and quartered p11
Countess of Desmond p12
County of Kerry p14
Crosbie pp16 & 61
Crown Hotel p27
Crown Jewels Sir Art Vicars p61
Cullinane J remodelled Market House 1914 p61
Curtin Lee p32
Daly Charles PP 1704 p49
Daly Peter p18
Dancing p36
Davells p12
Davies Wm RIC p34
Davitt Michael p25
De Brun Margaret p6
De Brun Padraig p6
De Morrisco Geoffrey p9
Desmond south of Maine p9
Desmond Survey p13
Dispensary Market House p61
Dominican Abbey Tralee p11
Dominican Church Dublin p11
Drogheda James/Thomas p11
Dun an Oir p12
Duff Laurence PP p52
Dease p41
Electricity 1929 p34
Ellis Andrew p15
English occupiers p14
Evictions p27
Ewes Rev Thomas p42
Fairfield Major p61
Fairs p16
Famine p22
Favourite Castle of the Island p12
Feiritear Piares p15
Fever pp5 & 22 & 24
Fever hospital pp22 & 60 I 61
Fife and drum band p31
Finn Bob pp27 & 26 & 32
First Dail p33
First rector St Nicholas (Ewes) p42
Fitzgerald John p16
Fitzgerald Fr Maurice pp18-19 & 50 & 39
Fitzhenry Meiler p9
Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald James p12
Fitznicholas Sir Maurice p10
Fitzpatrick Sir Jerh p33
Fitzthomas John p9
Fitzthomas Maurice p10
Flynn Jack p34
Forster’s Coercion Bill p27
Forty eggs p16
Freeman’s Journal ambush report 1921 p34
Front cover Castleisland 1726 p7
Funeral mass 1780s p18
GAA Michael Cusack p28
GAA inaugural meeting p30
Gaelic League Castleisland p30
Galvin John p6
Gearoid Iarla 4th earl p11
General Election 1918 p33
Gerald 16th Earl p11
Gladstone’s Home Rulle Bill p28
Glebe Kilbannivane p61
Glounaneenta p13
Glountane eviction p27
Godfrey John F p23
Government enquiry housing p21
Grand Juries p31
Greaney John p31
Grey Dun an Oir p12
Griffin David J p33
Griffin T p30
Griffith Richard p20
Griffiths description of Castleisland p20
Gun O’Mahony Pierce Kilmurry House 1907 p61
Harold Richard p45
Hartnetts Kilmurry House p61
Hartnett Mother Joseph Sandville pp40-41
Headley Lord p31
Herbert pp 13, 14, 38, 15, 16, 27
Herlihy Michael PP p52
Holloways Pills p23
Holmes George p19
Home Rule Bill Asquith p32
Horse racing Ballyplimouth p24
Huggins David p64
Hussey Denis p31
Hussey Sam Railway Director p23
Hyde Douglas p30
Inns p17
Inspectors Charter School p53
Irish Volunteers p32
Irwin Archdeacon p51
James 7th Earl p11
Kearney T p30
Kelliher Jeremiah p31
Kelly Daniel cut off Earl’s head p13
Kenny Patrick Balymacadam p27
Kerry Exe County p14
Kilbannivane Church medieval p42
Kilcusnan Castle tower house p11
Killananama Church p42
Killorglin bridge gallow p18
Kilmurry Castle tower house p11
Kilmurry church p42
Kilmurry House p61
King John p9
Knight H M p30
Lakes of Killarney George Holmes p19
Land League Davitt p25
Land League Castleisland p27
Leahy Patrick p45
Letters to France & Scotland 1344 p10
Linen p17
Local Government Act 1898 p31
London Scottish Regiment p33
Lord Ed Fitzgerald p31
Lord Headley p31
Lords Headley and Ventry p23
Lough Gur Limerick p12
Lovett Joe p53
Lyne Gerard p6
MacConnor Maurice p49
MacIntosh Archibald p61
Maginn John p53
Mahony James p53
Mallone John PP p50
Manor of the Island p13
Map of Castleisland town 1845 p22
Marescall Earl of Pembroke p9
Markets p16
Market House pp16-19, 29, 36 61
Marriages 1780s p18
Married priets removed c1608 p38
Mass Rocks Knockatee & Kilmurry p42
May morning racehorse p24
McCarthy Cornelius PP p49
McCarthy Florence p15
McElligott MP p32
McEllistrim Tom p33
McSweeney D p31
McSweeney J p30
Meredith Richard p17
Monument p34
Moriarty Sergeant p31
Mount Eagle p61
Mud cabins p21
Murphy Fr Arthur CC ps27 & 45
Murphy Humphrey Kerry No 2 p33
Music pp 31, 34-6
National Museum p6
Nationalist Movement p25
New Mansion for Lord Herbert p16
Nolan Martin p45
Nolan Tadhg p19
Nuns meals for children p254Nolan Dr Wm p45
Oatmeal p23
O Carron p49
O Criobhain Breandan p6
O’Connell John PP p51
O’Connor Arthur MP p27
O’Connor Brian Scartaglin pp60 & 33
O’Connor Brosnan Timothy p27
O’Connor Brosnan Terence son of above p27
O’Connor Eugene p45
O’Connor J Cordal p33
O’Connor J K p31
O’Connor Johnny Kerry No 2 p33
O’Connor refuge to 1st Earl p11
O’Connor Riada p30
O’Connor Sean Killarney cover p6
O’Connor W H p32
O’Crowley J F p34
O’Daly Charles p49
O’Dalaigh Conchui p13
O’Dalaigh Donall Dominic OP p13
O’Keeffe Patrick p34
O’Leary eviction p27
O’Leary Jeremiah PP p50
O’Leary John PP p51
O’Mahony Dan p33
Ormond attacks Desmond p13
O’Shanahan Jeremiah PP p50
O’Sullivan A M pp30, 31, 33
Palatinate of Desmond p10
Parish Priests 1421-1972 pp49-52
Parnell President of Land League p25
Parsonage p17
Patterson p24
Pearse Padraig p33
Pelham Sir Wm p12
Pembroke Michael p45
Pleydell J C p17
Poff & Barrett p28
Population pp15, 16, 22
Potatoes p23
Pound Road Houses p32
Prendiville Den and Jack pp33-34
Proprietors pp16-17
Protestant Church pp16-19
Public Record Office London p6
Quinlan John p31
Quinlan T M p30
Railway station p23
Rathkeale Castleisland Rd p20
Redmond John p32
Regan John p61
Reward for Earl p12
Reidy Beanough jockey killed p24
Reidy D J pp30-33
Reidy Maurice J p45
Reidy Michael p33
Relief Association p25
Riordan Pat p31
Roads and footpaths pp17, 20, 34
Roche Redmond p45
Roche Redmond Jerh p45
Roche John p60
Roper Sir Thomas p14
Rosney Peter p64
Sale of liquor on Sunday Act 1873 p28
Sanders Papal legate p12
Savage James p18
Scartaglin Church pp43-44
Schools pp53-56
Seignory of Castleisland p13
Session house p17
Severe winter 1670-1 p15
Shanahan Dick p6
Shanahan Richard E pp28 & 32
Shanahan Jack p34
Shanahan Dick p34
Shanid Abu p1
Slabach Richard pp pp37 & 49
Slawne of turf p16
Solohead Ambush p33
Smith Charles in Castleisland p17
Sister Virgilius p6
Steak p23
Steam loco p23
Sugrue Denis PP p50
Tarrant Pat p6
Telegraph p45
Teuton p9
Tower of London p12
Town House Geo Holmes p19
Town houses p16
Town Tenants Association p32
Traitor Earl declared 1574 p12
Trant Patrick p16
Treaty p34
Troops quartered in Castleisland 1680s p16
Troy Constable IRA agent p33
Twiss John p31
Twiss Martin p53
Ua Conchubhair Daithi PP p52
Ufford p11
Ulster Rising p15
Ulster Volunteer Force p32
Uprisings p20
Ventry eviction Glountane p27
Vicars Sir Arthur p61
Visitors to Castleisland pp17, 19, 20
Volunteers p32
Weaver Murphy pp35-6
Weighbridge p67
White Daniel p64
Whiteboys p18
Winter migration to England & Newfoundland p19
Workhouse p62
Wren M pp30, 28, 32
Wyndham Land Act pp31-2
__________________
1 Kerry Sentinel, 19 October 1898. Madame Patricia was the daughter of Patrick Andrew O’Sullivan, Ballymolire, Castleisland. Her brother was solicitor John O’Sullivan, who was admitted a solicitor in July 1896. Patrick Andrew O’Sullivan of Ballymolire was one of five O’Sullivan children, viz, Robert Andrew of Shanagurt (who married Ellen Prenderville and had ten children, one of whom, Rev Patrick Robert O’Sullivan, edited for one year The Dial, a student publication of St Mary’s Academy & College, Kansas, launched in 1890), Jeremiah Andrew of Castleisland (who married Hannah Lynch and had eight children) and Mary and Ellen. Genealogical material relating to the Castleisland O’Sullivans in IE MOD/C4. 2 Hardback, 160 page, full colour illustrated history published in 2005. Introduced by Fr Declan O’Connor, PP; foreword by William Murphy, Bishop of Kerry. Also includes a short introduction by Fr Kieran O’Shea, Editor, who advises that the Diocese of Ardfert was officially changed to the Diocese of Kerry in 1952 ‘though it was common in popular usage long before then’. Copy held in collection, IE MOD/A8. 3 ‘The Episcopal See in Kerry, heretofore Kerrigia which was the country of St Brendan to whose memory it was dedicated. Brendan studied under Bishop Ert and afterward went into Connaught to St Jarlath under whom he studied divinity. Omnipotent God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the title of a long prayer [unpub ms] ascribed to St Brendan’ (ref: Notes on some early Bishops of Kerry (11th to 14th centuries) from Antiquities and History of Ireland by Sir James Ware (translated into English by Sir William Domvile and Robert Ware and published in 1705). Bishops noted in this work include Dermot mac Mel Brenan who died at Ardfert in 1075; Magraté ó Eredain or I Ronan died in 1099; Mel Brendan o Ronan died 10th Kal October 1161 and was buried at Ardfert. Mac Ronan, called Bishop of Kerry, was present at the Synod of Cenanuse held under Cardinal Papron in 1152. ‘I cannot but think that Mac Ronan and he were one and the same.’; Gilla Mac Aiblan ó Hanmada died in 1166; Donald o Conarchy, called Bishop Jarmuan, or of West Munster, died in 1193; David o Duibditrib succeeded, also called Bishop Jarmuan and died in 1207; John, an English Benedictine, consecrated about the year 1215 and was deprived by James, Penitentiary to Pope Honorius III and Legat in Ireland in 1221. He lived afterwards in the Abby of St Alban’s in England till October 1245 on the 2d of the Ides of October, he died ‘having lived at St Alban’s from the time that he was deprived but retaining still the Dignity of Hertfert about 30 Years by Special Command of the Pope.’; Gilbert succeeded who had the Royal Assent 7th of May 1225 and was consecrated the same year. He resigned in 1237; Brendan obtained the Royal Assent 17th of November 1237 and sate 15 years; Christian of the Order of Predicants designed Bishop of Ardfert was confirmed by Henry III 25th February 1252. He sate not long for upon his death it seems the king granted Licence of Election 20th August 1256; Philip succeeded, who died in 1263; John, Archdeacon of Ardfert, succeeded who was restored to the Temporals 27 February 1264. He died in May 1285 and was buried at Ardfert in the Cathedral of St Brendan; Nicholas, before the end of the year Nicholas succeeded who sate not long for he died about the middle of March 1287; Nicholas, a Cistercian Monk, afterward Abbot of Odorney or Kyrieleyson, was consecrated in the County of Kerry in 1288 and died very old, about the beginning of the year 1336 having sate about 48 years. In the records he is called Bishop of Kerry; Alan o Hathern or Cathera was consecrated in 1336 and died the 2 December 1347. While he sate, namely, in 1341, Pope Benedict XII gave this See to Edmond de Carmarthen of the Order of Predicants as if vacant by the death of Alan but he being still alive, the donation was void; John de Valle provided by Pope Clement VI was restored to the Temporals 10 March 1348 and died in 1372, having sate above 23 years; Cornelius o Tigernach, a Minorite, provided by Pope Gregory XI in 1372 died in 1379 in the 7th year of his Consecration; William Bull, Dean of Cork, was provided by the Pope and after Fealty sworn to the King, was restored to the Temporals 14th of February 1379. Died circa 1404. The same publication contains notes on some abbeys in Kerry including the Friery of Aghamore (Derrynane), of the Order of Augustin Canons; Friery of Ardfert or Ardait, the Fitzmaurice, ancestors of the Baron of Kerry, founded a convent there of the Order of Minors. They deduce their original from Raymond le Gross; Friery of Balli-ne-Scelig (Ballinskelligs), of the Order of Augustin Canons. In one of the Isles of Scelig (some miles distant from hence) was an ancient Abby dedicated to St Michael the Arch-Angel, which is mentioned by Girald Cambrensis. Of the first found, I can say nothing, the Annals of the Abby of Inissale say that Flan Mac-Cellach, Abbot of Scelich, died in the year 885; but the Abby was afterward removed to a more commodious place, near the part of Balli-ne-Scelig; Friery of Inisfallen or Inisfathlen in Logh-Lean (Innisfallen), founded by St Finian, sir-named Leprous, after the middle of the 6th century. Of whom see John Colgan in his Acts of the Irish Saints, the 16th of March. The island abounds with the arbute tree, the fruit whereof is commonly called by the inhabitants the Cane Apple, but in Latin Unedo, because it is so unhealthful, that one is sufficient to be eaten at one time. So Hadrian Junius; Irrialagh, near Logh-Lean. Friery of the H. Trinity (Muckross), founded by Minorits, by Donald son of Thady Mac-Carty in the year 1440 and repaired by him in 1468, the year of his death; Killagh, Priory of St Mary (Killagha, Milltown), of the Order of Regular Canons, founded by Geofry de Mariscis, under King John. It stands near the River Mang; Friery of Lislaghtin (Lislaughtin), John O’Conner founded a Convent of Minorits there, in the year 1478. The place has its name from St Lactin, who died in the year 622; Odorney or Kirie-leyson, Daughter of Magio Abby (Abbeydorney), this abby had its beginning in the year 1154 and here was buried Christian, that famous Bishop of Lismore in the year 1186 who retired hither when, some time before his death, he resigned his See; Rathtoy, Abby of St Peter and St Paul (Rattoo), it was first an hospital dedicated to St John Baptist, built by Frier William, and confirmed by Meiler, son of Meiler, in the Reign of King John. Afterwards an Abby of Regular Canons; Friery of Traley (Tralee), John, son of Thomas Giraldine, founded a Convent of the Order of Predicants there, in the year 1243. In the Church of this Convent he and his son Maurice, slain by Mac-Carty, were buried in the year 1261. 4 IE MOD/A8
