Michael O’Donohoe was a keen sportsman. In the 1950s, during his college years, he played football for Erin’s Hope (the St Patrick’s Training College team). Later he participated in local and county sports, playing for Castleisland Desmonds and the Kerry football team.1 Michael was just as keen a spectator, as evidenced by a quantity…… Continue Reading
Romantic Hidden Kerry
Michael O’Donohoe studied T F O’Sullivan’s Romantic Hidden Kerry (1931), a rare find on the second-hand bookshelves today, and wrote his own useful index to its content. In this document are entries such as Ginkle besieging Limerick in 1691, and Capt John Zouche at Dun an Oir in 1580. The collection also contains a small number…… Continue Reading
Earls of Desmond
The Erl of Desmond and his kin hath of lands under him 120 miles. Four hundred horse, eight battles of Galoglas, 1 battalion crossbow men and gunners, three thousand kerns. His country is long, and so environed, and hateth the kings laws, so they give none aid.1 It is clear from the extensive notes held…… Continue Reading
Browne, Poff & Barrett
Michael O’Donohoe’s papers include notes on the murder of Thomas Browne, shot dead on 3 October 1882, and the subsequent conviction and execution of his neighbour, James Barrett and Barrett’s cousin, father of four Sylvester Poff, for the murder. Both men were widely believed to have been innocent. Poff and Barrett were hanged…… Continue Reading
An Spailpín Fánach
Two versions of the song, An Spailpín Fánach (The Roving Spalpeen) are held in the collection, one from Munster and the other from Connemara. The song dates to circa 1797: The Irish Spáilpin fánach , the ‘Roving Spalpeen’, designates one of the flock of migratory labourers once so common when tillage was more used in…… Continue Reading
Con Houlihan and The Taxpayers’ News
A folder entitled ‘Sources’ forms part of the Michael O’Donohoe Collection. It contains an assortment of useful references, including guides to local history research (IE MOD-72-72.1), an index to the register of electors in Castleisland (IE MOD-72-72.7), a record of schools in Castleisland (IE MOD-72-72.2) and a 1996 Development Plan of the town (IE MOD-72-72.8).…… Continue Reading
Kerry Historian: T M Donovan
Michael’s collection contains many references to A Popular History of East Kerry (1931) by T M Donovan and includes Michael’s own handwritten index thereto (IE MOD-74-74.2), notes on the content of the book, genealogical notes on Donovan and a copy of an article by Donovan (IE MOD-74-74.5) published in the Westminster Review in 1902. It is clear Michael…… Continue Reading
Streets and roads in the town of Castleisland
Street names are wonderful caretakers of history, as shown in Michael O’Donohoe’s essay on Creamery Lane, published in a separate post.1 Barrack Street was of particular interest to Michael as number 11 was his family home. The area takes its name from the military history of Castleisland. Michael published an essay on the…… Continue Reading
Kerry Auctions 1879-1897
Auctions of land, property and livestock in the Castleisland district over an eighteen year period, 1879-1897, were noted down by Michael O’Donohoe during the many hours he spent researching local newspapers in the County Library Tralee. His neat, concise notes (IE MOD-2-2.1) cover less than one page yet open up volumes in Irish history. …… Continue Reading
Ballyseedy 2 am March 7 1923
A cluster of historic bridges in the locality of Knocknagoshel hold a supply of tales of times past. Headley’s Bridge, which stands almost adjacent to Talbot’s Bridge, recalls the days of Lord Headley, who in 1824, ‘assisted by Mr Griffith, the Government Engineer,’ laid the first stone of the bridge ‘on the new line of…… Continue Reading