==============================

School

 

 

 

Knockanure Teachers Samuel Lewis in 1830 reports Knockanure had a small Thatched Church with a School attached, Griffith Valuation 1850 John Byrne had school valuation 10 shillings, Michael Mulvihill had school c 1834, Also hedge school at Trien and at Connors Gortdromagowna, 1868 to 1873 teachers Casey, Keane & Molyneaux, Boys school records burnt when school went on fire, 1874 to 1917 Maurice Casey, to 1923 Jer Carroll, to 1903 Elizabeth O Mahony, to 1918 Tim Sullivan, Later Hartnett for a short time, to 1919 Joan Flaherty, to 1923 Mary Mc Mahon, to 1928 Tom Callaghan, to 1933 Julia Flaherty, to 1953 Paddy Callaghan, to 1957 Miss J J Horan, to 1968 Miss M O Callaghan, to 1969 Cormac O Leary, to 1965 Kate Finucane, to 1972 Mairead O Callaghan, to 1990 Mary O Carroll, Moyvane Murhur Teachers 1850’s John Shanahan, Margaret Lawlor, Elizabeth & Alice Madden, Tom Enright, David White, Pat Shine, Elizabeth McCarthy c1863, Denis Connor, John Rourke, Jim Barry came 1880, Tom Carr, Dan Mulvihill, Girls’ School Joan Hederman to 1889, Bridget Shine to 1880, Joan Fitzmaurice to 1885, Lizzie Gleeson to 1926, Nora Scanlon to 1934, Elizabeth Nolan to 1946, Bridie Barrett to 1958, Mary B O Connell to 1964, Mary O Carroll to 1964, Boys School Some teachers: Robert Jones c1901, Dan Mulvihill & John O Rourke to 1904, Maurice O Claochlaighe to 1941, Joe Moriarty to 1930, Kathleen Mulvihill to 1945,Tim Buckley to 1941, Tom o Connell to 1944, Mary Shine to 1939, Sean Barrett to 1954, Padraig O Sullivan to c193?, Cormac O Leary to 1953, Mary B O Callaghan to 1971, Noel O Connell to 1961, Kilbaha Tom O Callaghan 1929 to 1944, Mary B Dineen 1929 to 1945, Mary Collins to c1951, Dorothy O Sullivan to 1964, Aughrim School c1850 under The Church Education Society & Rev R Fitzgerald, Samuel Lewis in 1830 reports: Near Newtownsandes Large School House erected at the expense of Fr J Long PP. The Board of Education allows £12 per year to support the School. Knockanure School Girls c1890. Brid Ahern, Mary Ahern, Mary Ahern, Ellie Ahern, Mag Ahern, Brid Buckley, Mgt Buckley, Eliz Buckley, Kate Buckley, Kate Broderick, Mary Broderick, Brid Broderick, Mary A Buckley, Kate Brosnan, Han Buckley, Mary Brosnan, N Broderick, Ellie Broderick, Ellie Barry, Joan Barry, Mgt Broderick, Mary Buckley, Nora Buckley, Han Collins, Mary Carroll, Mgt Collins, Ann Carroll, Mary Connor, Brid Costelloe, Mgt Connor, Han Connell, Ellen Costelloe, Brid Carroll, Julia Cronin, Jna Costelloe, Julia Collins, Mgt Collins, Mgt Cronin, Nano Cronin, Mary Custelloe, Ellen Connor, Mgt Custaloe, Nano Connor, Nora Connor, Kate Connor, Brid Carroll, Jna Connor, Mary Carmody, Mgt Connell, Brid Creed, Mary and Kate Costelloe, Kate and Brid Connor, Mary Doolin, Mary Dowd, Mary Drewry, Kate and Jna Dillon, Mary Dee, Nora and Mgt and Ellie Dillon, Kate and Bridget Driscoll, Mary Dore, Mgt Dee, Mary ,Jna and Brid Donaghue, Ann Dowd, Mgt Dore, Cath, Mgt, Ellen, Han, Brid, Jna, and Mary Enright, Ellie Egan, Mgt Egan, Mgt and Kate Enright, Jna Flaherty, Han Fitzgerald, Mary Fealy, Nora and Jna Flaherty, Mgt, Mary, Liz, and Ellen Fitzgerald, Brid Flaherty, Kate Fealy, Brid Fitzgerald, Han Fitzgerald, born c1886, Han and Cath Flaherty, Mary and Mgt Finucane, Mary Fitzmaurice, . Knockanure National School Opened 26-4-1874. Teachers c 1890 were Julia Flaherty, Joan Mc Mahon, and Mrs Casey. Notes taken at National School Exhibition held in Listowel. Nora Shanahan, born 1914 Clounmacon, Mary Walsh Beale born 1919.Ann Moloney Castlegrace Co Tipperary born 1916.Peggie O Dell born 1922, Rita Shine Creamery Managers daughter. Sarah Barry Newtownsandes came in 3rd Class, Mgt Barry b1916. Joan Horan and her sister came to Knockanure their Guardian a Pensioner. Noreen Hayes School Teacher Knockalucka 1926. Mary Kennelly Shopkeepers daughter 15-10-1918 in 5th Class. Mgt Horgan and K Sullivan at Knockanure School 1931, and 1941 respectively . Mary Synan b1924, Mgt Synan b1922. Mary Kennelly Finuge 1915. Nora and Mary Kennelly born Finuge 1915 . Knockanure Tithe List c1825. Keylod and Gortaglanna John Sweeney ,John Sandes, Tom Connor, John Moran, Con Keane, Pat Moore, Tom Kelly, John Goulding, ? ? ,Tim Ahern, ? Connor, James Leahy, John Goulding, ? Moloney, ? ? , Mc Mahon, Tom & George & John Sandes, James Nash. Carrueragh And Coilagurteen Denis Mahony, Tom Lister, Fitzgerald & Dore, Widow Larkin, Francis Carroll, David & ? Flynn, Tom Nolan, Joe Sweeney, Widow Stack, Garrett Stack, John Relihan, Pat Stack, Wm. Connor, John Griffin, Tim Leahy, John & Widow Leahy, Tom Costelloe . Kilmeaney Geo Gun, Mrs Raymond, Widow Sullivan, Ml & Widow Relihan, ? Pope, Wm. Moore, D Finucane, John & Phil Costelloe, Pat & Dl Burns. Buckley & Finucane, Ml & John Costelloe. Gortdromagowna John Kelly, James Fitzgerald ? ,John Cregan, John Mc Mahon, Ml & Tom Mulvihill, John Buckley, Ml Scanlon, Widow Stack O Connor, Widow Connor & Son, Dl & Eamon Griffin, Tom & John Connor, Wm. Stack, Tom Mulvihill, Rob & Tim Leigh, Widow Sullivan , Dl & P Connor & W Buckley, Tim Leahy , Darby Connor. Knockanure 1850 Index Gortdromagowna. Ml Moore, Tom Kelly, Mgt Sandes, Tom Connors, Sylv Casey, John Connors , Jer Connors, Hugh Golden, Tom Woulfe, Lar Buckley, John Buckley, Mary Connors, Tim Flaherty, Jer Kennelly, Jer Carroll, Wm. Moore, Mce Neville, Jer Golden, John Golden, John Connors, Jas Connors, Con Connors, Tom Lyons, Robert Hunt, Cath Stoke, Ml Hunt, Tim Hunt, Denis & Dan Sullivan, Wm. Flaherty. Keylod Ml Connors, John Sandes, Church, Pat Keane, John Byrne, Mary Dillane, Tom Moore, Mary Moore, Cath Connors, John Moran, Cath Connors, Wm. Sandes, John Golden, Batt Connors, Pat Byrne, Ml Nash, Tom Langan, Ml McCormick, Jer Dillane, Cath Lindsay, Ellen Enright, Ml Golden, John Kelly, Ed Dillane, James Dore, Ellen Mulvihill, John Stokes. Carrueragh Pierce Mahony, Mary Dore, John Kennelly, John Callahan, Rob Mahony, Dan Nolan, Con Costelloe, Tim Moloney, Ellen Larkin, Jas Larkin, Jas Leahy, Pat Stack, Pat Keane, John Flynn, John Doody, Tom Stack , Cath Stack, Pat Stack, John & Mary Nolan, Ml Dore, Garrett Stack, Tim , James & John Leahy, Wm. Lynch, Tim Madigan, Tom Leahy, Sarah Nolan, Joe Sweeney, Mary Nolan, Nora Finucane, Ml Relihan, Dan Carroll, John Carroll, Mary Enright , Mary Carroll, John Enright, John, Tom & Ellen Costelloe, Tom Corridan, John Relihan, Joan Pierce, Martin Enright. Beenanasbig Nora Connors, Mce Connors, Bridget Moore, John Stokes, Wm. Leahy, Tom Mahony, Ellen Mulvihill. Kilmeaney Tim Jones, Mary Kelly, Ml Stack, John Kelly, Dan Cronin, John Scannell, Stephen Pope, John Murphy, Ml Scanlon, Wm. Moore, Wm. Lunham, Tom Paradine, John Relihan, Tom Finucane. Trien. Pierce Mahony, Tom Sullivan, Nora Mc Mahon, John ,Dan & Denis Lyons, John Carroll. Shanacool : Wm. Lunham. Lissaniskea John Sandes, Tom Connors, Batt Connors, John Connors, John Leahy, Tom Leahy, Grave Yard, John Connors, Wm. Leahy, Ml Connors, Con Lyons, Pat Hanrahan, Pat Kelly, Wm. Sandes, Terence, Tim & Johanna Mc Mahon, Pat Buckley, Pat Carroll

 

=============================

Irish scenes

 

 

 

STEPHEN FRAWLEY, a native of Limerick, now resident in Holloway, London, has written a book about “The Irish Scenes of the Past,”and is waiting to have it published.

 

 

 

With his letter are enclosed a number of poems. Here is a random sample:

 

 

 

“The precious sun and the rain,

 

 

 

Without it what would we do?

 

 

 

Life would be more,

 

 

 

Yes, folks, we would all be through.”.

 

 

 

Here is another sample:

 

 

 

“London seems a city

 

 

 

Where the tourists come and go,

 

 

 

So many things to see here,

 

 

 

So many things to show.

 

 

 

Old Big Ben rings out with joy,

 

 

 

And the glittering lights appear,

 

 

 

The night has come to claim its victims,

 

 

 

With some music, dance and beer.

 

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/john-b-keane/301645/career-of-local-white-hope-was-one-of-epic-failure.html

 

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Reflect

 

 

 

 

 

Bishop Brendan Leahy

 

 

 

12 Dec 2023 12:07 PM

 

 

 

Email:

 

 

 

news@limerickleader.ie

 

 

 

AS we begin our Advent journey towards Christmas, I want to recall how 800 years ago this Christmas, St. Francis of Assisi arranged the first Crib in Greccio, in central Italy.

 

 

 

Francis was very practical. He realised that we need to see, hear and even smell something before it can enlighten our minds and ignite our hearts.

 

 

 

So he arranged for the crib to be made ready with hay, an ox and donkey and real living people. It is said that soon many arrived with candles and torches, standing looking at this crib and singing hymns, praising God and feeling a wonderful moving atmosphere of peace invading their soul.

 

 

 

The idea of the crib took off and soon there were cribs all over the world in different shapes and sizes and designs depending on the local cultures.

 

 

 

It was said that the hay used by Francis miraculously acquired the power to cure local cattle diseases and plagues. Perhaps that explains the tradition that some people have during the Christmas season when they visit a crib in a church of taking a piece of the straw home with them.

 

 

 

800 years on, the tradition of the crib is still going strong. And now, in a world where war, violence, despair, sadness and tragedy seems to be all too pervasive, we really need this Christmas to ignite our hearts and the crib can be the symbol that does that.

 

 

 

It is a living Gospel that speaks to our heart, our mind and our soul. Why not, on this 800th anniversary, think of setting up the crib early this year, even before the tree!

 

 

 

And why not look around and see if there are possibilities of displaying the crib not just in churches and in our homes, but in our workplace or healthcare centres, in schools and meeting places, in restaurants and sports clubs, in prisons and in homes for the elderly, the disabled, or recovering from addictions…

 

 

 

And for those who have never had a crib in their homes, why not bring that warmth into your personal space this Christmas so that when you arrive back there, it is that small but powerful reminder of what matters to us all; the joy and peace that the true meaning of Christmas brings.

 

 

 

Yes, because the crib speaks words the heart hears even when we are coping with challenges that seem too great for our mind to work out. What does the crib tell us? Many things, but let’s just take three brief points. The crib reminds us:

 

 

 

- That we are not alone in a world grown cold. In the incarnation, God has become very close, very close to us. Jesus loves us with a love that is compassionate and consoling. Yes, in the crib we see what Pope Francis calls “the revolution of tenderness”. God has a human heart. He understands our life situations of need, fragility, and vulnerability. God is there for us so that we can talk to him about the people and situations about whom we are concerned. He wants to share our expectations and concerns.

 

 

 

- A second message has to do with our family life. In the crib we see Mary, Jesus’ mother, gently encouraging us to treasure in our hearts the gift of faith, looking out, even in the face of difficulties, for the positive in life with “eyes of faith”. We see Joseph who reminds us what loving with a “father’s heart” is like. We see the shepherds who have come from the hills into the small town of Bethlehem to see this great miracle of a Saviour born for them, reminding us that miracles can happen in ordinary everyday life.

 

 

 

- A third take-away from the crib has to do with our attitudes to the world around us. While the crib is a peaceful and apparently simple scene, it reminds us how we need to convert our minds and hearts to becoming people of welcome, outreach and peace. In the crib we notice that God has entered into our world through the experience of marginalisation and homelessness. The three Kings from the East, represent “foreigners” who are at home in this crib scene. We remember too that Jesus took his first human steps as a refugee and migrant. At a time when we see so many weapons being used in warfare, and so many violent images in all media, the crib’s image of peace reminds us we are made to work for peace, for universal brother- and sisterhood, and that our soul deep down is crying out, “never again war”.

 

 

 

Many of us have fond memories of the cribs of our childhood. How we made one, perhaps, as a child in national school. Some of us not so well. But whatever way it turned out, we did it with respect and care – symbols for us today.

 

 

 

We know how the crib has the power to lift up our hearts and be enchanted by something greater than our possessions, than our world, than our limitations.

 

 

 

On this 800th anniversary of the first crib, let’s be grateful for how the crib each year offers a chance to spiritually open the door of our lives and say: “Jesus, welcome, come in, come into my life, into the life of the family, into the situations of conflict in our world”.

 

 

 

Of course, as we look at the crib, we not only welcome Jesus in, but realise we can have Christmas everyday if we love one another as Jesus commanded us because when we love one another He, Emmanuel, is indeed among us.

 

 

 

Finally, we can be grateful that in the hectic rhythm of life, the crib prompts us to pause and contemplate. It’s when we stop and pray that we realise what really matters in life.

 

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/christmas-in-limerick/1370408/a-message-about-the-crib-at-christmas-from-the-bishop-of-limerick.html

 

 

 

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Hotel

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3THxrWo1PXI

 

 

 

=========================

 

<<<<<< 

 

 

 

This lovely tribute to Clounmacon was written by the late Bryan MacMahon for inclusion in the journal published to celebrate the opening of Clounmacon’s new football field.

 

 

 

The Clounmacon of my Mind by Bryan McMahon

 

 

 

I have nothing but the loveliest and liveliest memories of Clounmacon as a community, a fact significantly underlined by the opening of a new Gaelic pitch today.

 

 

 

As a matter of fact, Clounmacon School was the first school I ever attended. I was no more that three years of age when I first entered its classrooms. My mother, God rest her, who had been teaching in Lancashire for almost ten years returned home to marry and take up an appointment as an assistant teacher in Clounmacon-then the only outlying school in Listowel parish.

 

 

 

The school was a new one and spic and span in every particular. The paint on the partitions was bright and shining and the atmosphere was excellent. Even as a child could appreciate that.In the winter of 1912 (that’s how far back my first contact with Clounmacon goes and I have verified the date in an old family diary), a small pony, a trap and harness was bought for my mother. Off she went up Dromin Hill, the pony trotting, the brass glittering and the little silver bells on the harness gaily ringing.I was in the vehicle. I was dressed in a dark blue velvet suit with a lace collar as befitted the son of a schoolmistress!

 

 

 

After we passed Charlie Nolan’s of the Pound-that’s the name of the house opposite the gate of the Sportsfield-and waved to Paddy Evans at the fountain and to Kiely’s just beyond it-I spied something that attracted my full attention. It was a tall woman with a galvanised bucket of water balanced on her head. With a slight inclination of her face she saluted me with dignity.

 

 

 

Our next stop was at the closed railway gates where the thunder of the passage of a passenger train made the pony restive. After a greeting from Hannie Jones (mother of all the O’Connell’s) and a chat with the neighbours, we faced the hill. A stop was made at O’Sulllivan’s to see if berries were appearing on the tall holly tree beside a house. Then there was a word to Old Jack Leahy, a mine of folklore, who witnessed the last duel fought in Listowel square and who, I believe, worked as a clerk in Michael Davitt’s office in Dublin, and a God speed from Margaret O’Riordan (Conway to you) we were now passing Raymond’s. There was a beautiful little well just across the low demesne wall where on our journey home the housekeeper would have a bucket of apples for us.

 

 

 

On the crest of the hill and in a little distance from the road was Kennelly’s. Later I entered the kitchen to find an elderly pair conversing in fluent Irish as capably as one would find in Ballyferriter today.  With Jer, a brother in Bedford, this family comprised the last natural Gaelic speaking family in North Kerry.On the brow of the hill there was a pause to chat with several neighbours. Here it was at a later date that our pride came to grief as I shall explain presently.

 

 

 

Downhill then the pony trotted merrily to reveal houses in Knockane and Clounmacon I came to know as well as my own. After a chat with Son O’Donnell we came to a halt at Murphy’s. There we were royally received, the pony untackled and left there until the afternoon.

 

 

 

“Across the Fields to school” is a fitting title for what I recall as a first impression of the school area. I realise later that girls and boys were making their way cross-country to the school from the Mail Road area. Sometimes they had to walk along the tops of the fences as the dykes, as we call them, were flooded.

 

 

 

The schoolmaster greets me- a fine old timer called Thade O’Flaherty. There are assistant teachers also: memory betrays me at this point as I am not sure whether the assistants were Tom O’Connell, Michael Griffin or Patrick O’ Farrell. But all of those were there in the early days of Clounmacon School.

 

 

 

As I enter the building, and my mother’s hand leaves mine. I am engulfed by the senior girls. They crush me to their bosoms and admire my velvet suit, my lace collar and my little Duke shoes with the buckles. It was my first major encounter with the opposite sex. I wasn’t aware of the full ramifications of their embraces but, young as I was, I knew that something pleasurable was going on. They even fought one another for possession of me. Later, when the cookery classes were over, they bribed me with tarts and queen cakes.

 

 

 

Given into the custody of one of the older boys who was seated beside me, I too demanded a pen and a sheet of paper. I then peeped over his shoulder and cogged from him- this though I had never been taught to write. The teacher was amused when he took up my handiwork. What I had done was to cog faithfully the name and address of the senior boy beside whom I was seated.

 

 

 

Lunchtime came and again the senior boys took charge of me in the playground. The school master stayed inside in the school with the door locked while he ate his luncheon. When he emerged he wiped his face with his handkerchief and seemed in good humour. A trio of my custodians, the bigger lads, hustled me into the open door and right into the empty classroom. One of them knelt on the floor and putting his nose to a tiny pool of dark liquid on the boards looked up and said “Tis porter all right lads”.

 

 

 

Some time later, on spying a similar pool of spilled liquid on the kitchen floor in my own home. I knelt and sniffed it deeply then looked up and said  ‘Tis porter all right mother”. When I was cross examined on this antic the whole story came out. “ Well, could you beat the Cloubmacon lads?” was my mother’s comment of the affair.

 

 

 

What else do I recall? The girls gathering ceannabhán or bog cotton to stuff pillows, also collecting wild flowers to win a competition in the old Gymnasium Hall at the North Kerry Show in Listowel. I recall too many of the girls coming to my house to seek advice from my mother before they set out for the United States of America.

 

 

 

But most of all I recall the pony under our trap who, taking fright on the crest of Dromin Hill, drove one of the wheels onto the fence and capsized the vechicle. I was dragged out bespattered with mud and blood. My velvet suit was in tatters, I recall being comforted in a neighbours house (Shanahans?) and later sitting shivering with shock in front of Murphy’s big fire where a cup of tea steadied my shaken nerves and the fire dried my sodden clothes

 

 

 

These memories of a school and a gracious community are renewed and reinforced by the opening of a new Gaelic football ground today where thrilling contests will adorn the Ireland of the future.

 

 

 

Above all, my memories focus on a very lovely community, which although the school as a school is gone, the building lives on in sterling service to the people. This pitch and the splendid players Clounmacon of the future will produce, as it has done in the past, will also forge a fine link in the chain of tradition.

 

https://listowelconnection.com/tag/vincent-buckley-r-i-p/

 

 

 

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Every Christmas season, modern musicians — from pop stars to country singers to R&B artists — release new holiday music, offering their own versions of old songs and attempting to introduce new hits into the Christmas canon.

 

 

 

Despite this constant influx of new holiday music, people often continue to reach for a set of classic songs that are eighty years old.

 

 

 

If you’ve ever mused that it seems like the most popular holiday songs largely come from the 1940s and 50s, that perception isn’t just in your head. Statistically, two-thirds of the top Christmas songs of all time came out during those two decades.

 

https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/entertainment/why-are-most-of-the-classic-christmas-songs-from-the-1940s/?mc_cid=fda86f1b08

 

===========================

Folklore from Listowel

 

The following is from the schools collection and was collected by Bryan MacMahon in the 1930s.

 

 If you bought bonhams and put them all together throw two buckets of sour milk on top of them to keep them from fighting. I saw Dan Shea of Clievragh doing it.

It isn’t sour milk at all sir, it’s porter you should throw in their eyes. I saw Mick Stokes of Market St. doing it.

8. If you kill a goose, or a cock, or a cow and put your fist on the back of his neck and press he’ll make the noise he made when alive.

(9). If you want to make a starling talk split his tongue and put his beak up to a rack (i. e. a comb) – and he’ll speak.

(10). My mother (Mrs Doyle Slievecahel) told me that a man was coming home from Castleisland one night and he saw a lovely city inside in a Glen. He went in and there was nothing there only rocks. It was the reflection of a town in Australia.

(11). My mother said they used use pointy sticks before as forks. They used have a pointy stick as a Knife and a gabhlóg as a fork.

(12) People long go used go to no Mass but they used put a pot on another man’s head and hit it with something and that’d be by-the-way the bell. One night the pot fell down and they couldn’t pull it off and they had to break it to knock it off.

13. When I received my first Holy Communion in Ballyduff, after the priest made the sign of the cross with the Holy Communion I saw a little baby in the priest’s arms.

14. Jack Joy told me that Paddy Ferris of the Gaire made a cake a’ Christmas time with 5 lbs. of flour and it took him 5 hrs to make it.

15. St. Synan’s Well is in “Souper” Connors land (Protestants) and they got water out of the well to boil the Kettle and it wouldn’t boil at all so they had to throw it out and get other water.

16. Daniel O’Connell was at a feast one time and poison was put in his glass. One of the sewart-girls was by the way singing a song [?] in Irish and thus she warned him and she blew out the candles and he changed glasses. with some other one. She sang

“A Dhomhnall Ó Conaill, a dtuigeann tú Gaedhilg?

Tuigim a’ coda (a chodlad, a chiota) agus a’ chuid eile Gaedhilg,

Tá an ionad den salainn á chuirfead sa dtae dhuit,

Múcfad-sa an solas agus cuir cúcha féin é”.

(T. Kennelly from mother who is from Glenbeigh)

-------------------------------

 

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https://www.ancestornetwork.ie/

 

 

 

=================================

 

http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/GrandJuryPresentments1807-1900/

 

=================================

 

The London Times of April 8 1936 announced the provisional agreement for the go-ahead of the "Poulaphouca Scheme", also known as the "Griffith Moynihan Kettle Scheme" and the "Liffey Scheme".

 

   This is a climax to efforts which have been made for many years by prominent Irish engineers with strong support from the press and the public. The scheme is designed to provide the city and county of Dublin with a water supply that will be adequate to their needs for many generations, and reinforce the Shannon Electrical Scheme by an independent source of power.

 

==========================

Daniel Brandon was born in 1844 in Tarmon, Kerry, Ireland. He married Johanna McCarthy on February 12, 1865, in Listowel, Kerry, Ireland. They had one child during their marriage. He died in September 1903 at the age of 59.

 

 

 

When Nora C Kennelly was born on April 13, 1841, in Kerry, Ireland, her father, Cornelius, was 31, and her mother, Margaret Barry, was 29. She married Timothy Daniel Buckley on February 13, 1870, in Duagh, Kerry, Ireland. They had 11 children in 20 years. She died on November 12, 1928, in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, at the age of 87.

 

Fr. Tim Galvin from Kilmanihan Brosna gave the homily at Kiltegan Family Day on Sunday July 1st.  Tim is home on holidays from South Sudan. A second cousin of Julia Stack Moyvane. July 2018.

 

History 06

Jan 5 -06 Notes
SCHOOLS: Because of the shortage of teaching posts several teachers set up their own Secondary Schools in the 1930's and '40's. Catholics Secondary Schools were set up in Abbeyfeale, Tarbert, Glin, Newcastlewest and Castleisland to name a few, the annual fee for a student was £9 to £12 per year. The Principal of Colaiste Mhuire which was established in 1937 in Abbeyfeale was Miss Catherine Woulfe, who studied under Dr. Douglas Hyde. This year it is 40 years since O Malley's free education bill.
TEN years ago 87 dictatorships fell around the world.
KNOCK Shrine at St Malachy's Church , Mayo, Quebec was erected by Rev. H.C. Braceland and in 1966 the Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa Dr. J.R. Windle led a pilgrimage to the shrine.
HISTORY: Fleadh in Listowel 1985,'86 and '87; New Outdoor Altar at Knock was erected in 1966; New Years Night 1926 Dr. Douglas Hyde inaugurated 2RN Radio; Christmas Night near Craughwell in 1835 the poet Raftery was buried; Arts Council cut funding for National Entertainment Scheme in 1985; M.J. Flavin was unanimously selected as a candidate for parliament at a convention in Listowel on January 9th 1906; Massacre at Wounded Knee took place on 29th December 1890, Black Elk an Oglala Sioux who was a member of an Indian Dance Group which toured England and Europe between 1886 and 1889, on returning home to South Dakota he witnessed the killing by the troops of his people. Saturday January 5th 1828 Humphrey O Sullivan a Kerryman in Callan writes in his diary, That some townspeople are putting in order a circulating library. It is a year established .... Who will establish an Irish Library?; Davy Crockett reaches the Alamo on Jan. 5th 1836; January 1606 trial of gunpowder plotters; Petty was sent to survey Ireland in August 1652 he estimated that only 20,000 of every 180,000 houses had chimneys, smoke caused widespread eye trouble, also 30,000 beggars travelled the roads of Ireland. As a young man in Paris he is said to have existed for a week on two penny worth of walnuts. William Petty was well educated died on the 16th of December 1687 of gangrene. Blessed John Duns Scotus born 1266, as far as I can understand, his view was that Christ was the perfect man and that God created the human race in his image, Blessed John was buried in Cologne in 1308.

JOURNALS: The Ballyguiltenane Journal is the biggest seller in the district year after year it provides a platform for local poets, writers and storytellers, several writers from abroad also contribute. Athea Parish Journal is also available and has articles on the Cratloe Hedge School; Interview with Con Greaney, Bunny Dalton, Tom Mullins and several others: Folklore from Carrigkerry collected in 1938, Crafts in the Locality and much more.

Jan 12 -06 Notes
MOYVANE name change, before voting should we consider the merits of going back to the old Irish name, as Moyvane is only the anglicised version of the original name.
HISTORY: 1936, the year of the three kings in England, Kipling and Chesterson died, German army entered the Rhineland; James Joyce died 13th of Jan. 1941; 1906 General Election returned the Liberals to power; According to recently released 1975 state papers,
The cottage in Bruree where De Valera was reared was bought in 1974 for £5,000; A Garda memo states The extent to which girls can be employed in order to release gardai for outdoor work is extremely limited; advice to the government on the celebration of the bi-centenary of the birth of Daniel O Connell, Issue a stamp and have some local function at his birthplace.
On 15th January 1836 Daniel O Connell wrote a letter to David D Leahy an Innkeeper of Abbeyfeale advising him that he will arrive in Abbeyfeale about 2pm on Sunday. 40 eggs cost one penny in 1686. First Edition of the Ballyguiltenane Journal is available at Newcastlewest Library, it contains poetry from Paddy Faley and Tom O Donoghue; letters from P Foley which won prizes on Radio Eireann; articles on Feury's Hill with its five county view, the coopers shop and a walk around local townlands and reminiscing about times past.
Local events in January 1966; Gerald McKenna new public relations officer for GAA; Fr Pat Ahern produces his first Nativity Pageant at CYMS in Tralee; Patrick O Sullivan appointed temporary Headmaster in Causeway; Tom McEllistrim Junior son of Tom McEllistrim TD was appointed to Kerry Committee of Agriculture; the marriage took place of Paddy Kearney and Eileen Francis SRN.
TO HEAL a burn without a scar: Take a handful of yellow scurk that grows on old walls and half as much of the white of a hens dung and enough pigs lard to make the mixture into an ointment, boil well and strain with fine cloth, put it on the burn twice a day with a feather, remedy prescribed by Jane Perry in the first decade of 1700.
TITUS OATES was expelled from the English College in Spain in 1677 after five months probation for disgraceful conduct, he was later given a pension of £5 per week from William of Orange.
EMPLOYED in this country in 1986 was1.01 million people, it is expected that by end of this year 2006 that 2 million will have jobs.

Jan 19-06
HISTORY: EWTN ( Eternal Word Television Network) was founded in 1981 by Mother Angelica a Franciscan who had only a garage, $200 and trust in God, now EWTN is a worldwide media organisation which can be contacted at www.etwn.com ; English statistics reveal that in 1984 only 1,000 women were found guilty of serious driving offences, while the figure men amounted to 28,000; there is big hype now about bird flu, an advertisement for Ku-Ku in The Liberator of January 8th 1924 promises a cure for poultry distemper, which has caused untold damage to Irish poultry, also in the same edition violent storms and heavy rain visited the South of Ireland on Saturday night and continued slightly unabated till Sunday , serious floods in many parts. Irish Echo of January 24th 1931 reports: John McCormack filled the Carnegie Hall on Friday last, the house was in uproar when he sang I met her in the Garden where the Praties Grow, only three artists could consistently pack the hall, McCormack, Paderewski and Kreisler; On Saturday night January 24th 1931 the Knocknagoshel young men held their Grand Annual Ball, also on the same night The Rose of Lima Circle held their annual ball in aid of the foreign missions, Testimonial Dance in aid of the recently injured Rory O Connell of Tralee was held on Sunday 25th 1931. Cork Examiner of Jan 7th 1922 reports President De Valera's resignation and the Treaty Dail debate, Michael Collins at one point in the debate, said that we will have no Tammany Hall methods here, also reported is the inquest into eighteen deaths in Belfast, where the Coroner said there was a Bolshevist Association out to create strife between the two sides. Local events: Parnell visited Kilmorna on Sunday January 18th 1891 he was born in 1846. Sr. Mary Berchmans Kennelly of Knockanure entered the convent on 20th January 1906 she died in Brentford in 1959; J. J. McNamara B. Agric. Science gave a talk to Knockanure Macra on 21st January 1956 on his visit to Denmark in 1954 at the time 60% of total agricultural production was consumed by the Danes, 27% of the population got their livelihood from agriculture, 90% of agricultural exports went to England.
TRANSPLANT: First full lung transplant in Ireland too place at the Mater Hospital last week, 17 others are on the waiting list, for transplants to take place donors are needed, enquiries about donor card ring 1890 456 556.
AUTISM: Report on research of Dr Mickey Keenan from the University of Ulster claims that his method of treating autism which is all about empowering parents and using special techniques which help you get the best out of your child can bring remarkable results.
BIRTHDAY: Happy birthday on January 22nd to local historian John Murphy. Best wishes also to Kitty Shine of Moyvane who has reached her 90th birthday.

FRANCISCAN Missionaries of Mary, Sister Nuala gave a talk on the work of the missionaries at masses last weekend, Sr. Nuala told us her order work in 77 countries and families in poor countries have to live on a euro a day, Last year the tsunami and the Pakistani and Indian earthquake put extra strain on their resources, thankfully none of their members were killed in these tragedies

Jan 26- 06
PLOUGHING Match will be held in Abbeydorney on January 29th, Causeway on February 5th and Ardfert on February 12th .
500,000 acres of wheat was grown in Ireland in 1851, by 1881 the acreage under wheat had dropped to 150,000 acres. 1 million acres of potatoes were grown in the 1860s and by 1890 the acreage was half a million acres. Cattle numbers doubled between 1841 and 1900
SUGAR beet is grown by 3,700 farmers and provide jobs for 5,000 directly and indirectly producing an income of E140 million, due to changes in the markets this year we may see the last beet campaign in this country
BOOK: The Far Side of the World is a new book just published on Irishmen who served in the Korean War, several locals died in the war and a memorial to them is in Lixnaw.
CONGRATULATIONS to Mary Collins who celebrated her 100th birthday on January 18th 06 Mary was the second of six children born to John and Elizabeth Collins of Direen, Athea. Mary did her teacher training in Scotland where she taught for some years, returning home to teach in Kilbaha, Clash and Athea. Mary's centenary party was held at Dromore Nursing Home and was attended by Cannon Kelly of Athea and her nephews, nieces, friends and relations
HISTORY: ; First British-Consul General appointed to America was Sir John Temple who became a baronet in 1786, Sir John's reports were filled with stories of American misery anarchy and discontent, Temple was a first cousin of Dr Robert Emmet the elder; snippets from The Western Herald for January 1833, Mr William Gun Mahony second son of the late Rev James Mahony of Castleisland was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Royal marines; the population of the United States has reached 12 million; Long description of January fashions; report of grand supper attended by 400 people at the Mansion House for the encouragement of Irish manufacture among the attendance were Lord and Lady Headly, Lord and Lady Ennismore, Hon. Mr and Mrs Hare and Lord Riversdale; Patrick McMahon of Clare was attacked in his home by a group of men who took away his daughter; Heavy flooding on roads; Information on Captain Rock who is said to have gone to America; Mr Mullins MP for Kerry has refused to attend O Connell's Irish Congress which was held in Dublin; Cholera has disappeared from Listowel where the Knight of Kerry has established soup kitchens; Society to promote emigration established in Limerick. Tasmania collected among its inhabitants in 1855 £25,000 for relief of widows and orphans of the men who died in the Crimean War. RIC man Tobias O Sullivan who was born in Galway was killed in Listowel on 20th Jan. 1921; In 1946 a single room with private bathroom in Spain cost about 25 shillings, a meal in a first class hotel for two cost over £3, principal taxes on the meal 20% luxury tax went to help the poor, there was also a 10% war tax on the meal. After 40 years the Tarbert correspondent for the Kerryman is to retire on February 2nd 06.
CENTURY of News Photography exhibition to mark the centenary of the Irish Independent is on display at Tralee Library. A sample of the 300,000 items which were donated to the National Library are on view, more details from www.nli.ie

Feb 2nd 06
HISTORY: William Pitt died 23rd of Jan. 1806, he became Prime Minister in December 1783 at the age of 24 years; In 1899 measles killed 600 children in Dublin; Snippets from the Kerryman for January 1906, Month's Mind for Cannon Fuller; Mr M.J. Flavin MP spoke at Listowel Rural Council and Board of Guardians meeting and told them that when he was elected 10 years ago the ratepayers were paying £4.000 for 101 extra policemen, within two years he had them removed, Mr Flavin urged farmers to support labourers as they had supported farmers during the land agitation; Parkinson's of Tralee and his exploits on land and at sea including a trip he made to Klondike; Stephen J O Reilly plumber was seeking a job at Glin Industrial School; John McMurrough Kavanagh of Dunquinn announced that from now on he will be known by his Irish name; Poem on, A Hundred Years from Now; Information wanted on lost family members, Courtney, O Riordan and Bradley; Kerry `98 Memorial, the idea of the memorial came from the GAA and so far it was claimed that they did not make any effort to contribute to it: A Tribute to Mr M.J. Flavin by the Newtowndillion U.I.L. among these present were at the meeting were Mr J. M. Hanrahan D.C., T. Dineen D.C., J Nolan, D. Shine, M. O Connor, E.E. Stack, J.J. Hanrahan, P. Mc Mahon. Kerryman of 1940 reports; Red Cross Chase at Leopardstown , clamed to be the greatest sporting event ever staged in Ireland; Death took place of Mother Genevieve Sheahan aged 77 years and 56 years in religion she was a sister of the late Fr Peter Sheahan of Newtownsandes and Fr Denis Sheahan of Manchester Diocese, death also of Mrs William Cahill of Knocknisnaw; Story on the boxer John L Sullivan; Loaf of bread cost 5 pence over the counter. Freeman's Journal of January 1797 contains an advertisement for English Lottery tickets which can be bought in whole, halves, quarters, eight and sixteenths; Charity Sermon will be preached at St Peter's Church on February 19th 1797 since the last charity sermon 4928 poor families at different times have been relieved, 824 Wheels with a Pound of Flax to each have been distributed.
FEAST: Wednesday Feast of St Bridget, the local children make St Bridget Crosses to mark the day;

Feb 9th 06
HISTORY: Kerryman of February 3rd 1906 reports; Two Milltown men dangerously attacked on highway; Ballylongford Notes reports on what Shrove means in Bally. Also forty girls attending night classes there; Dean Carmody states only for the military that St John's Church would be burned to the ground; Letter from M.J. Nolan of Newtownsandes stating that he will move at the next meeting of the County Council to ask for a grant to construct a railway from Listowel to Tarbert; Scheme of Instruction in Horticulture 1905-6, plots of land wanted; Two fishermen Stack and Whelan accused of putting net across river. Snippets from Feb. 10th 1906 Kerryman; Case of a young Caherciveen Carpenter and his Master; Mr M J Nolan Vice-Chairman of Kerry County Council fired on near his house in Newtownsandes; Votes of sympathy from all over Munster and one from Dublin was extended to Mr Thomas F O Sullivan on the death of his father Eugene; Brosna farmer made pledge twenty years ago and intends keeping it till Ireland gets Home Rule: Ballyheigue schools closed due to dispute ; Land Labour Association held a large meeting at Tarbert, Glin Industrial School and Listowel Brass Bands played popular airs, on the platform were M J Flavin MP, M J Nolan JP CoCo, William McMahon CoCo, M Ryle of the Kerry People, J. E. J. Julian JP CoCo, D. Mangan RDC, Eugene Mulcaire etc, the report of the meeting took most of a page; DNA: Researchers from Trinity College Dublin using DNA samples, say one in twelve Irish men could be descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages. Genghis Khanis is said to have nearly sixteen million descendants.
JUBILEE: To celebrate its Golden Jubilee of Moyvane Church of the Assumption the Parish Liturgy Group have organised a Parish Mission from 18th March to 25th March.
A new heating system and the re-wiring of Moyvane Church is due to take place from 11th to 23rd February
Feb 16-06
Knockanure N.S. was opened in 1966.
HISTORY: James Earl of Desmond in 1568 entered Fitzmaurice Country in Kerry, took all cattle, burned houses and continues killing Fitzmaurice's men; Home Rule officially backed by the Church on 16th of February 1886; Churchill made his famous speech to loyalists at the Ulster Hall in Belfast on 22nd of February 1886.
Snippets from Lady Gregory's Diary written at the Russell Hotel, Dublin for 14th of February 1926: She left Galway by train and read the papers which reported riot scenes at the Abbey and an attempt to stop O Casey's play; she surmised that nearly all the trouble at the Abbey over the play was caused by women. Mrs Skeffington leads them, the same women cause disturbance on Poppy Day and at election meetings, Mrs Skeffington lost her husband in 1916, he was not a fighter but a pacifist who was killed by an insane British Officer. In Dublin an armed group tried to kidnap the chief actor Barry Fitzgerald, all the players stayed in the Theatre between Matinee and evening performance for safety reasons. The train that Lady Gregory travelled on to Dublin was crowded with people who were going to the football match Ireland v England;
Vatican Radio inaugurated on February 12th 1931, their information office during the war 1940 to `46 broadcast over 1,240,000 messages.
September 1956 the Mass X Ray unit visited Listowel of 258 checked 21 were abnormal; Ballybunion 109 checked, 11 abnormal; Moyvane 121 checked, 5 abnormal; Tarbert 181 checked, 12 abnormal; Ballylongford 80 checked, and 8 were found to be abnormal.
Disability Pension was applied for by 568 Kerry people in 1956, 361 pensions were granted, 93 were refused on medical grounds and 114 were refused on means test; at end of 1956 there were 1.100 on Disability Pension in Kerry.
254 blind people received help from Kerry Council in 1956.
BLIND: At present Trachoma affects 84 million people worldwide eight million of them are blind, the infection is spread by eye discharge, flies, fingers and clothing one dose of antibiotic can keep the infection at bay for a year.
European Commission are proposing to bring in a regulation to limit flights to five hours for guide dogs on airlines. The same Commission are bringing in the Nitrates Regulations for farmers.
GORTA held their Church Gate collections recently over the past twenty years these collections in Kerry yielded E425,000.

Feb 23rd 06
HISTORY: Bits and pieces from the Kerryman of February 17th 1906; Kerry County Council meeting was addressed on the principles of direct labour by Mr Mulcare R.D.C. and Mr Horgan of Newtowndillion; also discussed at the Council meeting was death of Fr Foran PP Prior, increase in Vets salary from £100 to £110, loan of £1,800 to buy Steam Roller, Outrage on Mr M.J. Nolan; Mr Nolan's letter to the Editor of the North Cork Herald is printed, he defends the people of Newtownsandes , saying that the blame for the shooting was on one individual not the whole of Newtownsandes; Dept. of Agriculture gave £10,000 towards deducing price of seed potatoes, they can now be bought for 1 shilling and three and a half pence; Labourers Cottage can be built for £84 and 10 shillings; Funeral of Fr John Foran PP, Prior at Listowel, he was predeceased by his brother Fr William who died in Australia, survived by brothers and sisters, principal celebrant of Mass was Rev Coleman Sweeney nephew, Fr Foran was buried in the family grave at Murhur. Kerryman for end of February features: Letter from America which reports death of well known priest Fr Maurice J Murphy born in Duagh 1844, Douglas Hyde was giving five lectures a week in America and hoped to be in New York for St Patrick's Day; Concert and Lecture at the Gymnasium in Listowel, among the topics covered in the Lecture and slide show were the Siege of Limerick, Landen, Surprise of Cremona, Blenheim, Ramillies and Fontenoy;
Marriage of Michael Buckley son of the late Mr T Buckley of Knockane and Mary Bridget Nolan daughter of Mr M.J. Nolan of Moyvane House, her uncle Mr M.J. Moore attended;
CULTURE: European Culture and History site is at www.michael-culture.org

VICTORIA Cross instituted 150 years ago, some men who won the cross include Joseph Connors of Duagh, Richard Kelliher of Tralee, two Agar's father and son of Tralee, William Nash of Newcastlewest, Claude Raymond and Fr Dan Kelliher was Military Cross winner.

Extract from Kerryman of Saturday February 17th 1906

Report of indignation meeting held at Tarmons on 13th of February 1906.
Mr Nolan was their representative for 13 years and the meeting condemned the cowardly attack on him.
Attending the meeting from Tarmons were D. Mangan. D.C.: J. Mangin, T. Moore, M. Fitzgerald, P. Fennel, M. O Connor, J. Graddy, James Graddy, R. Fennel, P. Mahony, J. Mahony, J. Enright, T. Buckley, P. W. Bunce, W. Fennel, P. Murphy, M. Wren, D. Wren, J. Egan, E. Enright, M. Burns, J. Halpin, J. Buckley, P. Bunce, T. Mackessy, P. Sweeney, J. Mulvihill, J. Mackessy, P. Collins
Dooncaha: J. Mulvihill, M. Enright, T. Ware, M. Enright, J. Kissane, W. Ryan, M. Scanlon, M. Donovan, J. Kennelly, M. Patt, J. Scanlon, J. Heffernan, M. Mulvihill, E. Scanlon, E, Kissane, P. Horan, J. Holly, Mrs Moriarty, M. Horan, P. Ware, J. Guerin, D. Guerin, J. Enright, J. Stack, T. Sanley, T. Moore,
Shanaway: T. O Brien, M. Murphy, P. O Brien, J. O Conner,
Tarbert: D. Dalton, W. Dalton, T. Linnane.

March 2- 06
HISTORY: St Patrick remarks in his confession: "The suffering of these women who live in slavery is the greatest of all. All the time they have to endure terror and threats" In 1066 William the Conqueror and his Norman army won the Battle of Hastings beating the English , in 1169 the Normans arrived in Ireland and established here names like Fitzgerald, Fitzmaurice, Cogan, Barry, Burkes, Lacys, Butler and numerous other names.
Kerryman of March 6th 1926 reports on Knockanure Branch meeting of Cumann na Geadheal, Secretary was J.T. O'Connor, the edition also reports the emigration of a whole family who are leaving for America and a letter about 2RN from Mr Moore of Ballybunion. Kerry Champion deports death on March 5th 1948 of John Stack who was MP for North Kerry from 1885 to 1892.
Bush is looking for $338 Million for the National Archives and Records Administration in 2007.
Tommy Moran began work as a coffin maker in Listowel in 1966 , saved enough to take him to England where he worked in a pub, returning home in 1978 he bought a bar in Carrigkerry which he developed, then moved to Jack Burkes in Thomas Street, in 1988 he bought the Red Cow Inn for £1m over the following eight years he expanded further increasing staff to 700.
March 9th 06 Notes
HISTORY: Nelsons Pillar was destroyed on March 8th 1966; Headlines from Kerry Champion for February 1936:Symparhy to Mr De Valera on the death of his son Brian aged 20 years; Cannon Murphy of Abbeyfeale died; death of Michael O Connor of Listowel and Brooklyn; Death of Michael Wall born at Kilmorna, he was chief representative of Pierce Engineering; William O Connor of Chapel Street, Tarbert failed to pay levy; Legion of Mary had Whist Drive in Walsh's Ballroom; New F.F Cumann established at Bedford; Lecture at the Plaza by Tom Barry of Cork; In the March 7th 1936 edition of Kerry Champion the paper reported on a letter from P. O Callaghan N.T. Knockanure on the disrepair of the Gortaglanna Memorial. March 2nd 1776 British troops in Boston were shelled by the Americans. Hogan Stand dedicated on 17th of March 1926. An Oige Hostel the Irish Youth Hostel is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year 2006. Everyone has over 1,000 ancestors when you go back 10 generations.

March 16th 06 Notes

INFORMATION on Thomas Tydings born early 1870s is being sought by his relations in America.
HISTORY: Ice Caps at the Poles are said to be over four million years old in the distant past big trees grew where the tundra is now; This year is the Centenary of the death of Michael Cusack founder member of the GAA, he went to school in Carron where he later taught, the school which was recently refurbished was built in 1858. The Hogan Stand was dedicated at Croke Park on 17th of march 1926. Sinn Fein founded in 1905 was in the words of Arthur Griffith a King, Lords and Commons Party till 1917. Snippets from the Kerryman: March 7th 1936 death of Mrs Jeremiah Buckley of Clounmacon, chief mourners were sons Patrick, Timothy and Jeremiah, daughters Mrs O Sullivan , Dromin; Mrs Lawler, Trippol; Mrs Shanysby , Chicago and Mrs Dunne , Chicago. March 14th 1936 prices: hens eggs 6 shillings per 120; duck eggs 5 shillings and 6 pence per 120; Chickens 9.5 pence per lb; old fowl 4pence per lb and ducklings were one shilling each; Also claimed in the paper that no labourers cottage was built in North Kerry by the Fianna Fail government; The tragic death occurred in Knocknagoshel of three members of the Danaher Family and the fourth member critical suffering from influenza pneumonia. Experiments: A mixture of shredded paper and molasses was used to replace hay in cattle feed experiment in America in 1991.

March 23 06 Notes
HISTORY: Elizabeth Barrett born March 1806 married Robert Browning in 1846, the couple exchanged 575 letters before their marriage. First Women's Day of Prayer in Dublin was held in 1934, it was led by Mrs Caroline Lyle and Miss Rosa Hudson. Kerryman March 1946: Cobwebs Glory was presented for the first time by the Listowel Drama Group: Lixnaw Red Cross gave a variety Concert at Tobin's Hall in Abbeyfeale; Listowel Hospital Sewage scheme cost £1,500; Recollections of Tom Quane on great hurling days in Kerry. March 1966: Death of Bishop Heffernan Bishop of Zanzibar from 1932 to `45; Listowel Drama Group presented Two on a String.

March 30th 06 Notes

KERRY. Archaeological & Historical Society lecture: Local man Gabriel Fitzmaurice will talk on the Social History of Kerry at Tralee Library on Wednesday 29th of March at 8pm.
HISTORICAL lecture on Beheading in Elizabethan Ireland will be given by Dr. Patricia Palmer of University of York at Tralee Library on Thursday 20th of April at 8pm.
AMBASSADOR: Australia's new ambassador to Ireland Ms Anne Plunkett is a descendant John Hubert Plunkett who was New South Wales attorney general 150 years ago.
HISTORY: In 1855 Kerry Diocese had 200 National Schools attended by over 30,000 scholars; between 1845 and '55 the population of the Diocese fell by 57,000.Birthdays: Michael Davitt at Straide on 25th of March 1846; Historian Mary Hickson at Ashe Street in 1826, Tralee; Samuel Beckett born April 1906; Ian Paisley April 6th 1926.First International Olympic Games were opened by King George of Greece on April 6th 1896. Kerryman of March 14th 1936 gives a sketch of the Kerrymens Society in New York which was founded in 1881 Denis Buckley of Kilcummin was the first President in 1936 his son was President, previous chairman Richard Stack who was brother of Bob of Ballybunion, next President John Brassil, up to 10,000 attended the Societies Field Day at Celtic Park.
Henry P Lanner used write the Kerry-New York Notes for the Kerryman

6th April 06
HISTORICAL lecture on Beheading in Elizabethan Ireland will be given by Dr. Patricia Palmer of University of York at Tralee Library on Thursday 20th of April at 8pm.
HISTORY: Recent Centenary of the American Jewish Committee was marked by opening an office in Berlin where the extermination of the Jews was planned by Nazis; First Jews came to Ireland in c1660, Eskine Childers who was elected President in 1973 was a descendant of them; Gladstone first Home Rule Bill introduced on 8th of April 1886; James Stephens 1882-1950 was Registrar of the National Gallery described the Easter Rising in his diary, he wrote "This has taken everyone by surprise. It is possible that with the exception of their Staff it has taken the Volunteers by surprise"; Henry Ford tested his first car in 1896; Women's League of Health and Beauty Est. April 8th 1930 by Mollie Bagot Stack; St Francis Xavier was born in Spain on 7th April 1506;

13th April 06
HISTORY: Kerry Champion of April 18th 1936 reports Garda investigation into report of 19 calf skins stolen from Newtownsandes Co-op, the paper also had an article on Juvenile Crime and remarked on lack of parental control and absence of school instruction. Lartigue Monorail approved on 16th April 1886 under the Listowel and Ballybunion Railway Act; William G Hare Earl of Listowel born in 1906 and was Secretary of State foe India in 1947; San Francisco Earthquake occurred on 18th of April 1906, 1,000 were killed and 2,500 acres of houses were burnt following the quake; Foundation Stone of St Peters Basilica was laid by Pope Julius II on April 18th 1506.
BECKETT and MacGreevy Celebration will be held in Tarbert from 21st to 23rd of April 06, full details from the Bridewell heritage Centre, Tarbert.

20th April 06
HISTORY: 1912 Kerryman of April 20th gives the main points of the Irish Home Rule Bill, Lower House to have 164 seats, expenditure on Old Age Pension, Insurance act, Labour Exchange and Postal Services was £3 million; Irish Parliament revenue £7 million deficit £2 million; April 10th 1915 edition of the Kerryman displayed an advertisement from J.J Kennelly of the Cloth Hall where he claims that he is the only Munster tailor with a Diploma from the British Institute of tailoring, J.J Kennelly was born in Knockanure also in the same edition of the Kerryman shallow water in the Feale for past fortnight and John Redmond reviewed 25,000 volunteers in Dublin, Ulster had 50,000 volunteers, most of the native Dublin volunteers supported Mc Neill's Committee; Report on Brosna Cow Testing in the April 3rd 1915 Kerryman several cows had had 700 gallons and a large number had 600 gallons while some cows had 250 gallons.
BOSTON Pilot: From October 1831 to October 1921, over 31,400 Irish immigrants placed advertisements looking for lost relatives in the Boston Pilot.

April 27th 06 Notes
HISTORY: Kerryman of April 27th 1912 reports on Listowel publican Martin Mulvihill who was charged under the licensing laws with having his door open before 2pm on Good Friday, Martin was a retired policeman who served in Belfast and his watch cost 6 guineas which he bought in 1877.In April 1915 the Kerryman gives a list if subscribers to Listowel Feis, Fr Ferris gave £1; Fr Breen of St Michael's £1; Madame de Janasz Kilmorna £1; Mr Flavin J.P. and Mr Little Inspector N.S, gave 10 shillings each; J.H. Pierce 5 shillings; Cannon Pattison, J Crowley and J Curtbertson gave 2 shillings each; Lars Larson half a crown and J Moore 1 shilling. Fr Darby Mahony famous Listowel PP died 28th April 1856. Irish population in May 1946 was 2,955,107 in 1966 it was 2,884,002.

May 4th Notes
HISTORY: Padraig O Cearbhaill of Glin gave his first Irish Class at Ballyguiltenane School on May 5th 1936; Jerry Kennelly of Knockanure wins his first election to Kerry County Council on May 5th 1926; Eamon de Valera addressed the first gathering of Fianna Fail at the La Scala Theatre in O Connell Street on May 16th 1926; Between January 1919 and 28th June 1922 members of the RIC suffered 442 killed, 725 injured and 20 kidnapped or missing; Johnny Cash born 1932 of Baptist parents in Arkansas, made his first single in 1955, during his lifetime he recorded 1,500 songs. May 1966 Ballybunion Greyhound Racing Club officially opened; 25 Kerry farmers were protesting at the Dail in May 1966; Irish Constabulary formed May 1836; In three day beginning on the 19th of April 1506 it is estimated that between 2,000 and 4,000 Jews were murdered in Lisbon; St Francis Xavier born in Spain in 1506 arrived in Japan in 1549 and died aged 46 in an Island off the coast of China.

May 11th 06 notes
FR. CASEY: Sr. Delia was on WL 102 on Friday evening last May 5th giving a talk on Fr Casey PP Abbeyfeale who died December 1907, next March it is planned to hold a special commemoration in his honour, publish a book and invite relations of Fr. Casey to Abbeyfeale.
BOOK on the history of St Ita written by James Dumphy is now available. St Ita who was born in Co Waterford in 475 and died at Killeedy, Co Limerick aged 80 years.
HISTORY: Empire State Building was opened in May 75 years ago. May 13th Traditional Big fair in Listowel; Cork wins first National Hurling League on May 16th 1926. Archbishop of Tuam set up a commission in 1936 to question the three surviving witnesses to the 1879 apparition of Our Lady at Knock. In 1943 the Department of Agriculture had fifty tillage inspectors and sixty three tillage supervisors to check 300,000 holdings which were subject to compulsory tillage orders; Males engaged in farm work in 1946 amounted to 519,600; De Valera made a radio speech in 1946 on the World Food Shortage-Our Own Position, farmers were asked to grow more wheat so that the Irish people would not be competing for American wheat which was needed for the starving people of Europe; In 1953 Ireland was a net importer of dairy products to the tune of £559,000, our dairy exports amounted to £2.1 million. Margaret Nagle of Annakissey married William Hickey of Kilelton in 1767 . Margaret had a picture of Joseph Nagle who fought at Fontenoy in 1749 when he was 21 years old.

May 18th 06 notes
HISTORY: Households in Carrueragh in 1901; Michael Mulvihill, Pat Enright, Jer Doody, James Fitzmaurice, Tim Moloney, John Moloney, John Creed, Mary Sheehan, John Dore, Pat Lynch, Willie Stack, Willie Keane, Pat Sweeney, Con Nolan, Tom o Brian, Tom Cahill, Jim Barrett, Bill Hunt, Jim Hunt, Pat Madigan, ? Ahern, Pat Flavin, Dan Carroll, Bridget Pierce, Mossie Stack, Kate Nolan, Maurice T Stack, Garrett Stack. Bob Stack, Bill Leahy, Jack Larkin, John Murphy and Dan P. Keane. Summer Time first became law on May 21st 1916. Catholic Boy Scouts were established during the winter of 1926/27. Kerry Champion of May 23rd 1936 reports that James Delargu gave a lecture on Saturday at Listowel Boys School to the recently formed Listowel Folklore Society. 1936 Edel Quinn sent to Africa to promote the Legion of Mary she died there May 12th 1944. Michael Davitt Centenary Conference will be held at St Patrick's College, Dromcondra, Dublin 9 from May 26th to 28th, enquiries to 01 88 422 39. Red Cross International Tracing Service will open their vast store of information to historians shortly. 1921 there were ten Irish regiments in the English Army. Mothers Day was established in America a centaury ago following a campaign by Anna Jarvis to remember he mothers humanitarian works. As part of the war effort in 1917 President Wilson used sheep to keep the Whitehouse lawn in trim saving valuable man hours.
RARE Breeds: Kerry Bog Pony Co-Operative will have a special day at Muckross Farm in Killarney on Saturday June 3rd all the farm exhibits and many displays will be on view.
May 25th 06
HISTORY: James Connolly established the Irish Socialist Republican Party on 29th of may 1896; Pallas was wrecked at the Gulf of St Lawrence on 30th of may 1856, among the passengers lost were 72 from Cork; Fitzgerald Stadium officially opened on 31st of May 1936, the field was bought for £750 and development cost £3,000;
CAPUCHIN Annuals first edition was published in 1929 in 1976 the Annual was loosing £1 per copy sold so the Capuchins decided to suspend .publication after the 1977 edition. During 1906 Temperance Crusade the Capuchin Fathers visited 117 Parishes in 23 Diocese , where they distributed 200,000 pledges.
Redemptorists Fathers first went to Cebu Province in the Philippines in 1906.
Snippets from Kerry Champion of May 1936: May 2nd Listowel CYMS had a variety concert provided by Tralee Musical Society. May 9th Con Brosnan presided at a meeting of the North Kerry Board of the GAA, 12 clubs were represented, North Kerry League competition May 10th in division 111 at Duagh Newtownsandes play Knockanure, referee M. Stack; Blackcock Feathers v Duagh ref. C. Brosnan. Aeridheacht Chairraidhe in Tralee attracted 12,000 to 14,000 patrons. May 23rd report on Listowel Library which had 2,106 books, 200 were Irish books, Aviation Day in Tralee Friday May 22nd 1936.
YOUNG Scientist exhibition which is in its 43rd year, entry forms and details are now being sent to secondary schools, very few Kerry schools enter the competition, more information from 1800 924 362.

June 1st 06
WEATHER: The wet weather is the constant topic of conversation by most people, cows are indoors in several districts. In 2,700 BC a slab was inscribed near Aswan on the Nile part of the message goes like this My heart was in great affliction, because the Nile failed to come in time in a period of seven years ---- everyone was in distress, the annual flooding of the Nile in Egypt was controlled when the Aswan dam was completed in 1964. Edith Holden an artist of the English Midlands recorded an entry in her diary on May 29th 1905 " One of the driest Mays I ever remembered only one wet day and one or two showers during the whole month of May".
Three days rain in 1926 melted all the buildings made of salt mud in the town of Shali near Siwa in Egypt close to the Libyan.
FARM Holidays in 1988 could be taken at Tom and Mary Dillane, Tarbert, B@B for £9.60, dinner £10, part board week £112; Mrs J Groake , Burntwood, B.B £10, high tea £9.50; Bambury Family, Ballylongford, B.B £9.60, high tea £6.50.
Holiday of 11 days in the Costa Brava in 1965 cost 21gns.
AUSTRALIAN Prime minister addressed the Dail while on a visit to Ireland recently, the first labour prime minister of Australia was Chris Watson his mother was New Zealand- Irish Martha Minchin, he only served from April to August 1904, Chris Watson died in 1941.
DAIL question revealed that on June 1st 1926 Newtownsandes and Listowel Credit Societies were being formed by I.A.O.S.
HOME Rule bill defeated on June 8th 1886.

June 8th 06
HISTORY: Michael Davitt died the last day of May 1906, his family were evicted from their home in Straide when he was four years old and at age eleven he lost his right hand in a cotton mill near Manchester. at age 24 sentenced to 8 years in Dartmoor for fenian activities, while in prison he came to believe that violence was self defeating, Michael Davitt was a great human rights campaigner and founder of the Land league. For many years his family grave in Straide was ignored and covered in briars. Liberator of Thursday June 8th 1916 reports Lord Kitchener and his staff drowned, Kitchener was born June 24th 1850.
50 YEARS ago Bill Hudson who was American born arrived at the home of his ancestors in Kilbaha. Ever since Bill has been researching his roots, copies of his work is available at Tralee and Listowel library. June 1966: Fr Brendan Sheehy son Sergeant Sheehy of Moyvane was ordained for Boston; Jack Leahy got prize at the County Show for the female champion; Marriage took place of Joan Healy of Moyvane and Gerald McLaughlin, James Sheehy and Margaret O Callaghan both of Moyvane got married in Boston.

 

JUNE 15th Notes 06
HISTORY: Bishop Bill Murphy was born in 1936 ordained a priest 18 June 1961and made bishop n 1995. Berlin Olympic Stadium with 76,000 seats was opened in August 1936, the last match in this years FIFA World Cup will be played in the stadium. While the 1936 Olympic Games were in progress anti Jewish persecution was scaled down. Average net wages for workers on the Feale drainage scheme in 1956 was c£4 and 8 shillings. AIDS was discovered 25 years ago. Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded 20 years ago, since then Adi Roche and her helpers have raised E16 million to help victims of the fallout from the reactor and given Irish holidays to 14,000 children from the affected district.
Kerry Champion of June 20th 1936 gives details of goods taken by the IRA, claims were made at Listowel Circuit Court, compensation claims included guns, taking of trap and overcoat, bicycle, quarry powder and meals supplied;
TREES are now in their prime, the Druids used sleep on branches of the rowan tree to improve their vision of the future, rowan was also associated with women; the alder which is now in full flower in the past it was associated with men; the oak was king of the trees; hazel was used by water diviners and also used to banish evil spirits; romance was associated with birch, but generations of children knew the pain it could bring; whitethorn was very white with flowers this year, ancient poets would have a whitethorn at their backs when reciting a lampoon.

June 22nd 06
ST MICHAEL'S College Year Book is now available ,it contains 64 pages of articles and photos compiled by the students, included in the Journal are class and sports photos; interview with Johnny Horgan of Glin who went to St Mick's 75 yrs ago; Eddy Dowling who was born in 1925; where are they now and St Michaels charity event for Ethiopia.
TADHG Gaelach O Sullivan who died in 1795 is the subject of a book recently launched by Fr Pat Moore, the book was written and researched by a Waterford woman.
UNCOVERING Kerry is a new travel guide written by Duagh woman with Knockanure connections Bridget McAuliffe.
LONGEVITY: Irma Stahler spent time in three concentration camps during the last world war and died recently aged 107 years, it is reported her formulae for long life was to block things out and get on with it.
KERRY A.& H Society will visit Glin Castle and surrounds on Wednesday June 21st at 10.45am.
GAA historical committee in Croke Park are researching GAA events in Canada, more information from joflynn@mulgrave.com
WATER Safety: RNLI have 43 Lifeboat Stations around the country, two stations based on inland waterways rescued 89 people last year, one in Lough Erne and the other in Lough Derg. RNLI rescued 1,161people last year and depend on voluntary donations to keep the service going. The RNLI are now introducing a hovercraft into their fleet.
MEMORIAL was unveiled on June 3rd 06 to Con Leahy of Cregane Limerick's only Olympic Gold medal winner which he won 100 years ago in Athens. Con was a member of a family of three sisters and seven brothers who between 1897 and 1913 collected five Olympic medals, 33 Irish Championships, six English titles and three American Championships. The memorial is at Bedford Row in Limerick City.
HISTORY: Nano Nagle took the habit on 24th of June 1776; Fr Mathew died 150 years ago this month; Custer's last stand was made on 25 June 1876; 29 of June 1976 was the hottest day in Ireland since 1887 the temperature reached 31.4 degrees centigrade;
KENNEDY: President Kennedy's ancestors include Fitzgerald, Hannon, Hassett, Hickey, Kennedy, Linnehan, Cox, Field,Murphy, Noonan, Sheehy, Wilmouth.
Sample of 1901 census for Knockanure village area; Maurice Griffin aged 58, his son Maurice aged 18; Bessie McCormack aged 70; Michael Barry aged 32, wife Bridget Kelleher aged 23 and four children; Jeremiah Carroll aged 42, his wife Mary Gorman aged 35; Julia Kelly aged 50, Ellen Kelly aged 47, Mary Kelly 28 and Jer Nolan aged 26; Tom Cronin aged 45, wife Margaret 42 and son James aged 17; Michael Finucane retired farmer aged 85, wife Mary aged 80 with son and two grandchildren; Michael Kelleher aged 60, his wife Nora aged 53 and son Tom aged 18.
PHOTO: Dr Page is taking up the second Rathcoola Residency 2006 and wishes to photograph relations and descendants of people transported to Australia, details from j.owens@griffith.edu.au

June 29th 06
RELICS of St Claude La Colombiere will be in Ireland during June and July, his relics will be in the Cathedral Killarney on July 12th 06 and then move to Cork Cathedral on July 13th.
The Cuckoo was still singing on Friday last in Knockanure and on Tuesday last at Direen,Athea, the fine weather at present is great for both human, animal and plant life, some will have regrets that the longest day is gone.
FOLKLORE collected in Athea, Carrigkerry and Kilcolman National Schools in 1937 was read on WL 102 on Thursday morning last June 22nd , Kilcolman school had nearly 200 pupils and only four teachers. Kerry Folklore collected c 1937 is available at Tralee Library.
Listowel and Carrigafoyle Castles are open to the public daily.
COURTENARY National School in Newcastlewest will celebrate their tri-centenary in the autumn
HISTORY: Number of persons in each house in Gortdromagowna recorded in the 1901 census; Edward Carmody 5; Patrick Nash 4; James Kennelly 5; Patrick Kennelly 7; Michael Barry 10; Pat Kennelly7; Ellen Lynch 5; James O Connor 6; John stokes 10; Mary Meehan ?; John Buckley 7; Tom O Connor 9; James Lynch 8; Patrick Broderick 8; Patrick Woulfe 12; Lawrence Buckley 10; Thomas O Connor 6; Mary O Connor 6; No name 8; Laurence Buckley 5; John Buckley 6; James Hunt 9; John Stokes 5; Michael Lynch 7; Timothy Flaherty 9; John Flaherty 9; Mathew Costelloe 3 and James sexton 3. July 1st 1966 Radio Eireann began five weekly programmes on "A Boy from Bruree".
July 4th 1776 Declaration of American Independence adopted by congress. St Oliver Plunkett was hung , drawn and quartered on July 1st 1683 he was the last Catholic to die for his faith at Tyburn.
KYOTO: was capital of Japan for 1,000 years and has numerous shrines and temples to both Shinto and Buddhist gods , the city is surrounded by tall hills and is a great centre for art. Kobe Japan's principal port is a short distance away.
RUSSIAN Comfrey was brought to England c1870 by Henry Doubleday who got the root of the plant from the Palace garden at St Petersburg. Patrick R Kennelly who died in 1912 brought the first comfrey plant to Knockanure, he got it from a contact from Tipperary whom he met in Ballybunion. Pliny The Elder (AD 23-79) noted the herbal qualities of Comfrey.
SAIL on the Dunbrody from July 5th to 9th, computer database on ship listing 3.5 million emigrants to America, details from 087 9845 102
SENIOR Citizens held their meeting on Monday last the 26th of June in the Marian Hall.

 

 

 

"Only for Tuatha Chiarrai we would not have been able to start the project in Knockanure. The total of the project was €513,000.00, we received the 1st grant from Tuatha Chiarrai for the total of €65,000.00. The old school was converted into a Community Centre, which is highly beneficial to the community of Knockanure today. Tom O'Donnell and all the staff of Tuatha Chiarrai have been wonderful to us."

Mary Flavin
Knockanure Community Development Association

 

National Lottery funding ; Knockanure Development AssociationKilmorna,Listowel, Co Kerry€ 50,000

 

Leslie Mary MacWeeney (b.1936)
Born in Dublin, Leslie MacWeeney studied at the National College of Art under Seán Keating and Maurice MacGonigal (q.v.). She was awarded a scholarship to the École des Beaux Arts, Paris, where she studied under Professor Souverbis. MacWeeney has been included in many group shows, making her debut at the RHA in 1957, and participating in (and helping to organise) the IELA (1954-1963), the Oireachtas (1955, 1962) and the WCSI (1963). Each time her address was given as Kilteragh Lodge, Foxrock, Co. Dublin. She was also included in the 1959 and 1961 Paris Biennales, and more recently in the Irish Women Artists exhibition, organised jointly by the National Gallery of Ireland and the Douglas Hyde Gallery in 1987. In the catalogue to this latter exhibition, Dorothy Walker gave high praise to MacWeeney's wall hangings of the Stations of the Cross, which now hang in the Corpus Christi Church, Knockanure, Co. Kerry. Walker deemed this series to be "one of the most important works of religious art in the sixties" and found in them "no false note, nothing maudlin, nothing trite, but a powerful emotional content" (pp.56-57). MacWeeney has also had solo shows at the Clog Gallery, Dublin (1957), and the Ankrum Gallery, Los Angeles (1961), and several shows at the Dawson Gallery, Dublin. Her work is in the collections of the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, TCD, the Thomas Haverty Trust, and the Santa Barbra Museum of Art, California.

Patrick Mulvihill b. 1883 Knockanure, Kerry
Posted by: kay Date: October 24, 2001 at 19:43:08
of 489

 

I have a birth record for the above, born 21 July 1883 to John and Mary (Carmody) Mulvihill of the above town. Would be pleased to send it to a descendant.
Cheers,

Patrick had another brother also in America, Jer

 

BROSNAN Family

 

 

Brosnan Reunion by Pat Brosnan

Last Sunday afternoon we had a gathering of Brosnan family members from various parts of Kerry, Limerick and relations as far away as England and New York. The whole idea of having a family reunion was brought about when my nephew Neil Brosnan, my brother Sean’s oldest son, and his wife Anne were visiting us from New York. My sister-in-law Kathleen, her son Tim, who is my nephew, and Tim’s wife who is Mary Lane from Brosna all suggested that we hold the reunion in their place in Dromada West, where we all, of course, originated from and spent our boyhood and youthful days.

What a party it was meeting some of my nieces we had not seen since they were children and of course, my nephews, grandnephews and grandnieces which somehow we meet more often. Members of my own family and grandchildren were also there. There was plenty of music and set-dancing in the concrete yard out the back where two tents had been set up in case it rained, which thankfully it did not.

The music was supplied by my nephew John, his son Neil and my other nephew Neil from Listowel, as well as a friend of his – a top class banjo player also from North Kerry whom Neil had brought with him when they had played in the open air stage during the Fleadh and Féile sessions in Athea some years ago which he recalled. Neil, from New York, and his wife Anne really enjoyed their holiday which continues until this weekend.

As well as avoiding the Hurricane which struck New York they travelled to different parts of the country here and met several relations from both sides. Anne’s father was from Dublin and her mother from Galway. Neil’s mother and my sister-in-law, who was the former Bridie Walsh from Derry, Listowel is still living at 90 but is now in a nursing home. Neil served in the New York Police for 27 years but is now retired for some time and works in another security job. They both visited us in Knocknagorna and Athea last Friday night accompanied by Seanie and Eamon. We all had a meal together at Pat and Sheila’s home in the Lower Road.

 

 

 

 

The age old tradition of celebrating Mass at Ballyine Mass Rock, Ardagh continued on Thursday evening last 18th August 2011. The site was developed, by voluntary labour in 1953/54 to mark the Marian Year and Mass was celebrated before 2,000 people on The Feast of The Assumption, 15th August 1954. It has been held on an annual basis since, Fr Larry Madden P.P. Ardagh/Carrigkerry celebrated the Mass

In 1963 Mainistir na Féile won its second successive Glór na nGael title and the President of Ireland, Eamon DeValera, visited the town to present the trophy. A combined choir from the four schools was formed to welcome the visitor. It was an historic occasion.

 

life and career of Murdo Mac Kenzie. A panel of speakers each dealt with a separate aspect of the story and the format worked extremely well. Dorothy Scott, a niece of Murdo’s, who had travelled from Forres in Scotland, gave a very informative insight into the family background and how Murdo came to Glengarriff to take up his post in 1928. She shared her memories of visiting Garinish through the years from her childhood in the 1950s and had a very interesting selection of old family snapshots from these occasions. Dan Kelleher who took over from Murdo in 1971 continued the story and told of his experiences trying to follow on from such a high standard as had been set. There then followed a panel discussion in which Do rothy and Dan Kelleher were joined by Cormac Foley who is now the Park Superintendant and by Eddie Jer O Sullivan who had begun work on Garinish as a teenager in the late 1950s.

 

 

Knocknasna National School, called Scoil Naomh Padraig is located roughly 3 miles north of Abbeyfeale. The original school was built in 1894. The first Principal of the boy’s school was Denis Fitzgibbon. After Denis, Paud McCarthy was appointed. Paud came from Caher. He lived in the main street in Abbeyfeale. His son Eddie was later Principal of the Boys Junior National School in Abbeyfeale. Davy O’Connor, better known as Davy the Master, replaced Paud. Davy came from Meenkilly and married a local girl Daisy Fitzgerald. They lived adjacent to the school. He retired to Tower in the County Cork. The assistant teacher at the time was Mrs Nora O’Connor (Nora McCarthy). Nora was a sister of Paud McCarthy and married a local farmer. They lived in Rahoran. When Liam O’Callaghan was appointed principal, Miss Noreen Flynn from Convent Street was assistant teacher.

 

The first principal of the Girls’ School was Nora Hanley who was married to Thomas D. O’Connor, a butcher and a brother of W.D. O’Connor. Next principal was Julia Fitzgibbon, a daughter of Denis Fitzgibbon. She was married to the chemist Humphrey O’Donoghue. They lived in West Street, Abbeyfeale. Julia was an aunt of John Fitzgibbon who later became Principal of Dromtrasna. Her assistant was Mrs Leahy. Mrs Leahy was originally from Meenkilly and she had two brothers, Tom and Pat, both of whom were teachers – Tom was in Meenkilly and Pat taught in Dromtrasna. Mrs Leahy lived near Gorteen Bridge and was married to a local farmer, Mr Johnny Leahy. When Julia Fitzgibbon retired Mrs Leahy became Principal.

 

A short time later the school was amalgamated and Davy the Master became principal of the whole school. The staff consisted then of David O’Connor (Principal), Mrs Leahy (privileged assistant) and Mrs Nora O’Connor (second assistant). The school for the first time became a mixed school. When Mrs Leahy retired, Miss Bridie Harnett was appointed. Bridie’s family came from Purt. Later the numbers in the school increased and the school became a four teacher school and again a Boys’ and Girls’ school. The principal of the Girls’ school was Bridie Harnett and her assistant was Mary Joe Flynn. The principal of the Boys’ school was Liam O’Callaghan and the assistant was Miss Noreen Flynn.

 

In 1966 the new school was built on land owned by Tom Murphy and was adjacent to the site of the old school. A substantial donation was made by Sean Harnett, a past pupil from Lower Purt, towards the building of the new school. The school again became a mixed school but the staff remained the same. In 1979 Pat O’Callaghan was appointed Principal. Caroline Griffin was appointed to replace Miss Noreen Flynn when she retired. In 2007 Miss Dolores Keane from Knocknagoshel replaced Miss Caroline Griffin.

 

  HARNETT REUNION: Following DNA testing carried out at The Harnett Reunion in July, the first batch of results has now been confirmed by Family Tree DNA in Houston Texas. Astoundingly, all three branches of the Harnett clan that have been tested; the Maurice Williams, The Foxs and the Farmers share a common ancestor from about 1763. The DNA results also disprove the theory that the Harnetts were Vikings (!). They are most definitely South Irish Type П and share a distant common ancestor with the O’Donoghues and the O’Mahonys, before the introduction of surnames around 1000 AD. So the Harnetts have been here from time immemorial. It would be great if other members of the Harnett clan would take the test. Information available of Family Tree DNA website or contact James.