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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How Lemass’ visit to Killarney led to new planning laws
On the 50th anniversary of the death of former Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Seán Lemass, here is an extract from the memoirs of Kerry South TD, John O’Leary (which
What I learned while researching the war in my community
Learnings from researching the ambush at Ballymacandy History isn’t really an interest of mine: it’s more like an obsession. It’s difficult to adequately articulate what makes one want to constantly
The only shots fired in Kerry during the Easter Rising
Despite much activity in County Kerry during the week-long Easter Rising in 1916, there was just one discharge of a weapon in the county during the entire rebellion. The confused
Coming soon: Ballymacandy – The Story of a Kerry Ambush
My new book on the Ballymacandy Ambush will be published shortly by Merrion Press. The ambush, which took place on the 1st of June 1921, a century ago this year,
“The Tans ordered me outside and told me I would be shot …”
A century ago, the women of Cumann na mBan played a critically important role in the Irish War of Independence, a role which has often been understated and overlooked. This
The War of Independence in Kerry – the Dracula connection
Research on the War of Independence in Kerry can throw up some extraordinary stories involving civilians who came close to being caught up in the vicious fighting between the forces
“Wipe them out for once and for all” – the Listry priest who stood against his bishop
Dan Allman’s brother: the formidable republican cleric, Fr Myles Allman of Rockfield Daniel Allman of Rockfield in the parish of Listry is one of best-known figures of the War of
The remarkable story of Annie Cronin of Cumann na mBan
One of the great benefits of the publication, in recent years, of new archive material from the Irish revolutionary period is the availability of the accounts of members of Cumann
Body parts were ‘strewn in all directions’ – the bloody climax of the Civil War in Kerry
There is little dispute that Kerry was the location of the many of the worst excesses of the Irish Civil War and that it was more acrimonious, divisive and protracted
The Kerry MP who won 99% of the vote
Jeremiah Daniel (JD) Sheehan was a national politician of some significance and holds an important place in the political record books. Born in Ards, Fossa near Killarney in the midst
The death of Joe Taylor of Glencar – 27 February 1921
A significant precursor to the Ballymacandy Ambush of June 1921 Next Saturday, 27 February, marks the centenary of the death of IRA member, Joseph (Joe) Taylor of Glencar. His death
‘Struck him violently in the mouth’ – the Kerry TD and the punch-up in the Dáil restaurant
John (Jack) Flynn was a very successful and long-serving TD for Kerry. A veteran of the War of Independence, he fought with the Sixth Battalion of the Kerry IRA and
