Owen O'Shea's Blog
Occasional meanderings and insights into Kerry’s past with a focus on electioneering, election results, key political figures, political culture, and the dramatic ups and downs of politics in the county over the past century.
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The Kerry MP denied the right to speak Irish in the House of Commons
Thomas (Tom) O’Donnell, who served as the member of parliament for West Kerry from 1900 to 1918, was born on 30 November 1871. A native of Ballyduff near Castlegregory, he
‘We rode on … carrying our revolvers in our hands’
An extract from ‘Ballymacandy: The Story of a Kerry Ambush’ by Owen O’Shea (Merrion Press, 2021) The police completed their business in Tralee by 2.45pm and they set out on
An apology from the BBC – Ross Kinloch, Senator The McGillycuddy of the Reeks
Seanad Éireann – the Irish parliament’s second chamber – has often been home to a diversity of colourful and interesting personalities who, it could be argued, might never have been
Kerry’s forgotten Minister for Education and his legacy
Many political figures of interest from the past are forgotten with the passage of time and one of the objectives of this blog is to ensure that significant politicians from the
Ballymacandy – RTÉ Nationwide 30 June 2021
A feature from the RTÉ Nationwide programme on the Ballymacandy Ambush in County Kerry in 1921 which was broadcast on 30 June 2021. The report by presenter, Donal Byrne, features
Timothy ‘Chub’ – the suave and soft-spoken Killorglin man
Killorglin TD, Timothy ‘Chub’ O’Connor is one of the most significant political figures in twentieth century politics in Kerry not least because he served in Dáil Éireann for twenty years
Killarney woman was last to die in Ireland’s War of Independence
Killarney waitress struck by stray bullet a few minutes before the Truce on 11 July 1921 The very final victim of Ireland’s War of Independence was a 48-year-old waitress who
‘Threatened with castration’ in Listowel in 1977
Liam Cosgrave arrived in Listowel in a last ditch bid to secure support for Fine Gael during his national constituency tour. It was days before the general election of 1977
“This is local history at its best”
“This is local history at its best: clearly written and cliché free, painstakingly researched, a useful index, a really clear map, interesting photos and placing the ambush in the context
“Meticulously researched and soberly written” – the Business Post on ‘Ballymacandy’
“Wait for a dead man’s shoes and you’ll end up barefoot,” warns an old English adage about the importance of taking action. At the removal of four police officers killed
Ballymacandy: a timeline of events
The Ballymacandy Ambush: 1st June 1921 9.30am: Twelve RIC and Black and Tans leave Killorglin RIC Barracks by bicycle to travel to Tralee to collect their wages. They are led
The Ballymacandy Ambush: 1st June 1921
The first day of June 1921: as Ireland’s War of Independence intensifies, twelve policemen – members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the notorious Black and Tans – make their
