‘The case should stand or fall on the evidence of Bridget Brosnan’1 On the day after Sylvester Poff and James Barrett were hanged in Tralee prison for the murder of Thomas Browne, a reporter remarked that it was ‘a matter for note’ that Mrs Brosnan, one of the chief witnesses at the trial, swore at…… Continue Reading
Poff and Barrett: Final Hours
‘A universal belief in the innocence of the prisoners prevails in this county’ On Tuesday 23 January 1883, the day of the execution of Sylvester Poff and James Barrett, the shops in Castleisland remained closed all day, as a mark of sympathy with the condemned men. The situation was the same in Tralee, the town…… Continue Reading
The Bard, the Folklorist and Peig Sayers
Wandering bard, Eoghan Roe Ward, left a touching snapshot of Peig Sayers in her twilight years when he visited her in her home in Vicarstown, Dunquin, in 1944. Peig was, he said, one of the hidden souls of Ireland seldom shown to the stranger and recalled how her voice settled in the depths of his…… Continue Reading
John Twiss and his Legal Representatives
It was at the Cork assizes my enemies all swore That I shot James Donovan and laid him in his gore. The Jury found me guilty, the judge to me did say: On the ninth of February, ninety-five, will be your dying day. From the song, ‘The Trial of John Twiss’1 The voice of…… Continue Reading
John B Keane and the Importance of Home
The Kerryman In Tanganyika, yes, my boy, that’s very far away, But wait you lad that’s nothing, for I haven’t had my say, In Singapore, Sumatra, or where would you like to go You’ll find them tough and rugged and they’ll never say you no. These Kerrymen are hearty men and handy men, and…… Continue Reading
Kilmurry Castle, Castleisland: In Search of its History
For more than 800 years, Kilmurry Castle has stood with its face to the elements. The magnificent ruin finds its roots in regal history, purportedly built in about 1200 by Meiler Fitzhenry, Justiciar of Ireland, after he was granted the northern part of the county of Kerry by King John.[1] Meiler (or Miles /…… Continue Reading
A Note on The Hickson Estate, Castleisland, Co Kerry
The Hickson Estate, an area referred to as tClucan (anglicised Tullighan) by T M Donovan in his Popular History of East Kerry, was the property of George A E Hickson of Woodville House, Ballyegan, Co Kerry. It was sold in 1906: Sale of a Trinity College Estate. The sale of the Hickson estate, situate…… Continue Reading
Some Historic Houses of the Castleisland District
The following list of historic houses and castles was compiled by the late Michael O’Donohoe. The handwritten originals can be viewed on this webpage: http://www.odonohoearchive.com/houses-of-castleisland/.1 Ahane Farm, Ballymacelligott Associated Names: McEllistrim Condition: Inhabited Notes: McEllistrims in Ahane at least 200 years. Ahane Farm burned 1916 and later restored. Old Tommy Mac on run for…… Continue Reading
The Quinlans of Kilcow and Farran, Castleisland
The following account of the Quinlans of Kilcow and Farran is given by Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Project Chairman, John Roche, author of Born for Hardship: Three Quinlan brothers were among the first group arrested within days of the Coercion Bill becoming law in the House of Commons in 1881. The eldest, William, was taken…… Continue Reading
The Siege of Castleisland
In Castleisland today, there is little to remind of the magnificent thirteenth century Castle of the Island. A siege of this castle during the times of Maurice, First Earl of Desmond, took place in the 16th year of his earldom. Maurice Fitzthomas Fitzgerald, son of Thomas – ‘The Ape’ – Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald, was created…… Continue Reading