St Cyprian says that we are born with a rope around our necks, and as long as we live on earth we hourly approach the gallows Liguori, Meditation IV The O’Donohoe Collection contains research notes on John Twiss of Castleisland, who was hanged in Cork County Jail on 9 February 1895 for the murder,…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Schools: Convent Boys
In his role as principal of the Boys’ National School, Castleisland, Michael O’Donohoe appreciated the value of school records. He dedicated a considerable amount of time to copying, by hand, a number of school registers. An admissions register for Convent Boys’ School Castleisland appears in the collection. It covers the period 1872 to 1951.…… Continue Reading
Castleisland in 1882
A number of charts displaying a variety of subjects form part of the O’Donohoe Collection.1 One chart contains a month-by-month summary of events in the Castleisland district in the year 1882 during the turbulent years of the Land War. The calendar is a remarkable illustration of the level of unrest in this year…… Continue Reading
Charles Bianconi
‘At school Bianconi was noted as a stupid dunce’ – Obituary to Bianconi, ‘the great pioneer of passenger traffic in Ireland’1 Michael O’Donohoe’s attention was drawn by Italian born Charles Bianconi’s lease of land at Main Street, Castleisland. Bianconi (1786-1875), founder of a public transport system in Ireland in the early nineteenth century,…… Continue Reading
Visitors’ Comments on Castleisland
One of the earliest descriptions of Castleisland was given by Gerald, fourth Earl of Desmond who almost sang it as ‘the sweetest island of Kerry’. A more contemporary description came from the pen of Castleisland’s Con Houlihan, ‘Not so much a town as a street between two fields’. Michael O’Donohoe was interested in…… Continue Reading
Castleisland on Record
Michael O’Donohoe made great use of statistical material in his research. He consulted Griffith’s invaluable records, the Census of Ireland (1659, 1901 and 1911), data from the register of electors and records of rates. Today, with much of this material accessible online, it is important to acknowledge that sourcing information was far more time consuming…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Workhouse 1849-1852
Michael O’Donohoe’s research material relating to Castleisland Auxiliary Workhouse reveals he tried to source records of those who were confined to the institution during its brief existence in the post-famine period, 1849-1853. An idea of the appalling conditions in the country at this time can be discerned from Dr George Alfred Walker’s Lecture…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Railway
As Michael O’Donohoe understood well, railways hold a wealth of history. His research papers include notes plotting the history of the Castleisland line from the incorporation of the Castleisland Railway Company in 1872 to the opening of the line in 1875, its suspension in 1947 and absolute closure in 1975. Another document records the…… Continue Reading
The Titanic
Michael O’Donohoe’s interest in the history of Castleisland was all-encompassing. The collection contains material relating to the sinking of the Titanic on 15 April 1912 with particular focus on survivors from the Castleisland district. The disaster was reported in the contemporary press as follows: The mammoth White Star Liner, Titanic, acknowledged as the…… Continue Reading
Castleisland streets, lanes and houses
Castleisland was central to Michael O’Donohoe’s historical research. He studied the buildings in the town and vicinity and compiled notes about businesses and proprietors from Griffith’s Valuation and other sources. Michael’s study included Barrack Street/Lane, Limerick New Road, Spout Lane, Main Street, Church Lane, Tralee Road, Chapel Lane/Street/Quarter, New Line and Pound Lane. …… Continue Reading