In their own words ... a selection of the political quotes which feature in ‘A Century of Politics in the Kingdom: A County Kerry Compendium’ by Owen O’Shea and Gordon Revington (Merrion Press) which will be launched at Tralee Library on 18^th October 2018 at 7.00pm.

‘He is a most successful merchant in that town, and a wave of porter—you can describe it as nothing else—landed him safely on the county council bench.’

The Earl of Mayo tells the House of Lords about the 1908 unseating of county councillor, JK O’Connor of Castleisland, following a court petition which heard allegations of bribery, intimidation and plying voters with drink.

‘I credit the supporters of the Treaty with being as honest as I am, but I have a sound objection to it. I think it is wrong; I have various reasons for objecting to it, but the main one is that, in my opinion, it was wrong against Ireland, and a sin against Ireland ... We are now asked not only to acknowledge the King of England’s claim to be King of Ireland, but we are asked to swear allegiance and fidelity in virtue of that claim ... Ireland has been fighting England and, as I understood it, the grounds of this fight always were that we denied the right of England’s King to this country.’

Cahersiveen native, Dr Ada English TD, representing the NUI constituency, speaks against the Treaty in 1922

Dr Ada English TD

‘There are some places in this country where the duty of compiling the Parliamentary Register devolves on the Civic Guards. Kerry is one of these places. My experience is that they work in a very partial manner. They disfranchised hundreds of Fianna Fáil voters in Kerry at the last election and they went so far as to tear down Fianna Fáil posters from the gates at some of the polling booths. I can only come to the conclusion that they are a semi-political body, and I leave it at that.’

Kerry South Fianna Fáil TD, Thomas O’Reilly in the Dáil in 1928

‘… all drinks at dances should be abolished. When I say that, you can call me a pussyfoot, if you like, but I am very emphatic about the abuses that have taken place at dances.’

Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry South, Fred Crowley on the demon drink

‘As far as I can see, Government Ministers resident in Dublin consider Dublin as Ireland. They forget that we exist and that there are such places as Kerry.’

Jack Flynn, Kerry South Independent TD, speaks on the nomination of Taoiseach in 1948

‘Without me in the Senate, the people would be like sheep without a shepherd.’

Fianna Fáil’s Kit Ahern speaking during the 1969 general election campaign

‘Vote number 1 Tom McEllistrim and number 2 Kit Ahern in the order of your choice.’

The reported words of an agent for Fianna Fáil TD, Tom McEllistrim in Abbeydorney during the 1973 general election campaign in which there was a dispute between the candidates over being given equal billing in election material.

‘If Ronald Reagan, at seventy-four, can run America, I think, at seventy-two, I can represent the people of south Kerry.’

Labour TD for Kerry South, Michael Moynihan on seeking re-election to the Dáil at the 1989 general election

‘I have rarely been asked by RTÉ on to a major programme. I wouldn’t have a sexy enough image for the some of the fellows out in Donnybrook; but if I held different views, you can bet your bottom dollar that I would be on.’

John O’Donoghue TD, speaking in 1994