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

‘For a paper to be valid it must have recorded on it a first preference’

How a Kerry candidate rewrote the Irish electoral rulebook

'Wednesday, 10 February 2016: Ireland was deep in the midst of a general election campaign. The country’s lampposts were strewn with election posters, the party leaders’ debates were in full swing and door-to-door canvassing was continuing in earnest. Despite expectations that the country would go to the polls in the autumn of 2015, the Fine Gael-Labour government led by Enda Kenny had stumbled on into the new year until Kenny finally dissolved the Dáil on the morning of 3 February. His administration had lasted its full five-year term despite inheriting a bankrupt country and having to implement one austerity budget after another. Fianna Fáil, devastated at the previous election, were plotting a comeback. The long-anticipated campaign was well underway, and the ballots were due be cast on polling day which had been set for 26 February. But two weeks before the voters went to the polls and the shape of the new Dáil was revealed, they were already counting votes in Kerry. The tallymen and tallywomen were busy scrutinising bundles of ballot papers at the John Mitchel’s GAA clubhouse on the outskirts of Tralee. Apart from party apparatchiks from the constituency, the count centre was teeming with barristers and legal eagles from the party’s head offices. The county solicitor was present. So too several county councillors and seasoned election observers and psephologists like Fianna Fáil’s Teddy Healy, Fine Gael’s Frank Quilter and Labour’s Jerry Mason, party loyalists who would ordinarily have been immersed in campaigning for the general election. But it wasn’t general election ballots which were being counted in the spacious sports hall a fortnight ahead of the rest of the country. Instead those gathered were re-examining several thousand ballot papers which had been cast almost two years before and which had been the subject of a ground-breaking and protracted legal battle which went all the way to the highest court in the land, blowing a gaping hole in the way in which votes had been counted in Ireland for decades, resulting in the rewriting of the Irish electoral rulebook and changing the way elections are run in Ireland forever.'

(Extract from 'A Century of Politics in the Kingdom: A County Kerry Compendium' by Owen O'Shea and Gordon Revington. Launching from Merrion Press on 18th October 2018. Pre-order your copy now on: https://irishacademicpress.ie/product/a-century-of-politics-in-the-kingdom-a-county-kerry-compendium/)

Councillor sent to jail caused 'a good deal of sensation'

Councillor sent to jail

‘A good deal of sensation was caused at Castleisland,’ reported the Kerry Sentinel on 16 June 1907, ‘when a District Councillor named John Reidy of Castleisland was arrested and conveyed to Tralee jail.’ The offence? Cllr Reidy’s refusal to pay a fine imposed on him at the Castleisland Petty Sessions some time previously for failing to register his dog. Reidy was described as a member of Tralee Rural District Council and a prominent member of the Castleisland Sinn Féin Society. He had been summoned before the local magistrate for failing to hold a dog licence and had refused to pay the fine of 2s 6d. 

Cllr Reidy was arrested as a result and locked up in Tralee Jail for a week. Clearly a popular local representative, as he was escorted to the train station in Castleisland to be conveyed to jail, ‘a crowd gathered at the railway and the fife and drum band played the accused to the station discoursing National airs.’

The release of Cllr Reidy a week later prompted similar revelry. On his arrival at Castleisland railway station on the following Tuesday night, ‘a large crowd headed by the local fife and drum band met Mr Reidy and Mr J Fleming who was imprisoned for a like offence at the railway station and paraded the town amidst cheers after which a vigorous speech was delivered by Mr Reidy in Gaelic on the principles and policy of the Sinn Féin movement. Mr Fleming also addressed the meeting in a few words.’

(This and more stories coming soon in 'A Century of Politics in the Kingdom: A County Kerry Compendium' by Owen O'Shea and Gordon Revington and published by Merrion Press)

'The people would be like sheep without a shepherd'

In our forthcoming book from Merrion Press on the past century in Kerry politics, we include some of the best quotes and spoken words of those who represented the county in the Dáil and Seanad over the past century. Here is a short selection:

‘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.

‘Are you following the de Valera who fought in Easter Week or the de Valera who put the Special Powers Act into operation one day after the British Ambassador in Dublin cracked his whip? … Repression only intensifies resistance and so surely as one republican is interned there will be five others to take his place.’

Kerry South Sinn Féin TD John Joe Rice speaks in Firies in 1957 in opposition to the Special Powers Act, which was used to intern suspected IRA members in the 1950s.

‘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.

'A Century of Politics in the Kingdom: A County Kerry Compendium' by Owen O'Shea and Gordon Revington will be published by Merrion Press in October 2018.

New book to chart highs and lows of a century of politics in Kerry

'A Century of Politics in the Kingdom - A County Kerry Compendium' 

By Owen O'Shea and Gordon Revington

Publishing in autumn 2018 with Merrion Press

In the 100 years since the establishment of Dáil Éireann, rarely has politics been so divisive, turbulent, engaging and entertaining as in County Kerry. 

A Century of Politics in the Kingdom captures the exhilarating highs and lows of politics in Kerry, featuring tales of scandal, punch-ups, election-campaign shenanigans, bitter inter-dynastic contests, as well as the stories of the ground-breaking Kerry politicians who made their mark on the national stage and beyond.

This fascinating book draws on new material from the political parties’ archives, original research and candid interviews. 

Featured are comprehensive biographical details of every Kerry Teachta Dála and senator since the foundation of the Irish State, seminal debates and discussions, rivalries and resentments, and good old-fashioned fun and games – all of which has characterised the political cauldron in the county over the last century.

Stay tuned for publication and launch details … 

Owen O’Shea, from Milltown, Co Kerry is Communications Officer with Kerry County Council. A former Labour Party press officer and election candidate, he was journalist with Kerry’s Eye and Radio Kerry. He is the author of Heirs to the Kingdom: Kerry’s Political Dynasties (2011). 

Gordon Revington is a journalist from Tralee, Co Kerry, who writes on Irish political history, rural affairs and sport. He contributed to Kerry 1916: Histories and Legacies of the Easter Rising – A Centenary Record (2016)

50th anniversary of the 1966 by-election in Kerry South

This week marks the 50th anniversary of a very significant by-election in Kerry South which took place on 7 December 1966. The by-elections - there was another by-election on the same day in Waterford - were the first held since Jack Lynch had been elected Taoiseach so there was a lot riding on them for the new head of government and Fianna Fáil leader. The by-election was precipitated by the death of Honor Mary Crowley, who had been a TD for the constituency since 1945 - the first woman ever to serve in Kerry South. Running for Fianna Fáil was John O'Leary, whose campaign was run with great efficiency and intensity by the legendary campaigner and Donegal TD. It was also one of the first electoral contests in which money raised by Fianna Fáil's controversial group, Taca, was put to use. In this extract from his memoirs, On the Doorsteps, John O'Leary recounts the final days of the campaign:

The rallies in towns and villages around the constituency before polling day were closely co-ordinated by Neil Blaney and he certainly put his stamp on them. He would ensure that the essential ingredients for a successful event were in place, working with the local cumann to organise everything, including the platform, a public address system, a marching band to build an atmosphere, bonfires around the area, and guest speakers to rally the crowds. Blaney was a powerful speaker at any of the rallies where I heard him – he reminded me of a missionary priest with his fire and brimstone-like approach. He had a great ability to rouse cheers and support from those gathered. Jack Lynch was a strong speaker, too, but in a quieter way. He was new to the job of party leader and Taoiseach, but he was incredibly popular. The public took him to be a very sincere, honest man. He was tall and good looking with a great presence and he got a tremendous reception at each of the rallies he addressed in Kerry South. 

 

 

The principal towns in the constituency, including Killorglin, Dingle, Caherciveen, Kenmare and Rathmore all had at least one major rally during the campaign. In Dingle, I was accompanied by the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Pádraig Faulkner, as well as Bobby Molloy, a TD for Galway West. The truck was down at the end of Main Street and had been supplied by a local party activist, Tom Fitzgerald, who was later a councillor and senator. One night in Kenmare, our rally clashed with that of Fine Gael who were holding a similar event for their candidate, Michael Begley. Members of the public would often attend different rallies or after-Mass meetings, regardless of their political affiliation and out of curiosity about what the other candidates would say, and we were anxious not to clash directly with the Fine Gael speakers. After a bit of negotiating between intermediaries, however, there was no agreement on who should go first. There was a huge crowd in town and they had come in from surrounding villages like Tuosist, Lauragh, Templenoe and Kilgarvan. We had the Taoiseach as well as Ministers Charles Haughey and Joseph Brennan in town and didn’t want to delay so we set up as planned in the main square in Kenmare while Fine Gael set up their platform in Main Street. We decided to kick off at the same time as Michael Begley did. Jackie Healy-Rae was in charge of the amplification again and he blasted the speeches out through the speakers, drowning out Begley and his guests.

The final rally on 6 December, the night before polling day, was the climax of the campaign and Neil Blaney pulled out all the stops. The platform was, as always, in College Square, and there was plenty of razzmatazz. This was the final chance to convince wavering voters but it was also a chance to remind people to come out and vote the following day. They travelled in from all parts of the constituency and I estimated that there were up to five thousand people present. When I eventually got onto the platform, I could see bodies in every direction down Plunkett Street, onto Main Street, up along College Street and towards the Friary. The laneways off the main streets were packed too. It was a cold December night but the atmosphere was electric. Apart from Neil Blaney, I was also joined on the platform by Ministers Paddy Hillery and Brian Lenihan. From the local organisation there was Chub, my election agent Donal Courtney, county councillor Michael Doherty and the former TD, John B Healy, who was chairman of the Comhairle Dáil Ceantair.

The scene at the count centre on 8 December 1966

I made my best speech of the whole campaign that night. I made a promise that I would sort out the local authority housing shortage in Killarney and I pledged that if any developer or builder wanted to build, everything would be done to facilitate him so that the local economy would benefit. I referred also to Northern Ireland; I said I hoped to see an end to partition and to see a thirty-two-county Irish Republic established during my period in the Dáil. That went down very well. Redmond O’Sullivan was the local Sinn Féin councillor at the time and he was a fairly influential man too, so part of the reason for my reference to the North was a pitch to his supporters whom I hoped to attract in the absence of a Sinn Féin candidate on the ticket. I was mobbed by well-wishers and supporters as I left the platform; men and women were approaching from all directions wishing me good luck and shaking my hand. I was getting cheers and thumps on the back. I felt that, if the reaction was anything to go by, I had a fantastic chance of being elected the following day.

(Copyright: 'On the Doorsteps - Memoirs of a long-serving TD' by John O'Leary published by Irish Political Memoirs, 2015. Available in local bookshops)

Book charts untold story of Kerry's role in 1916 Easter Rising

Kerry 1916: Histories and Legacies of the Easter Rising A Centenary Record by Bridget McAuliffe, Dr Mary McAuliffe and Owen O'Shea (Irish Historical Publications, 2016) presents the definitive account of tumultuous events in Kerry in 1916, how they impacted on the Easter Rising in Dublin and the subsequent shaping of Irish history.

The book comprehensively details the roles played by Kerry men and women in national and local events, leading up to and including the Rising events in Kerry, Dublin and other parts of Ireland.

With contributions from academics, experts and local historians, the book portrays a county ready to play its part in the preparations for rebellion, the central role of many Kerry men and women in those preparations, as well as in the uprising itself on the streets of Dublin, in Kerry and other counties.

Including an overview of social and political life in Kerry in 1916 and an overview of the Rising itself, the book also has essays on the arrival of the Aud and the arrest of Roger Casement at Banna Strand; the drownings at Ballykissane; Austin Stack; The O’Rahilly; Thomas Ashe; Fionán Lynch; Thomas MacGreevy, the roles played by the Irish Volunteers, Cumann na mBan and the GAA in Kerry between 1913 and 1917.

Published for the first time—and drawn from first-hand accounts, witness statements and archival material— are biographies of over 100 Kerry men and women arrested for their activities, as well as stories of dozens of other Kerry natives who played a major part in the rebellion.

Featuring a detailed timeline of events, extensive newspaper reports and previously unpublished photographs from the period, Kerry 1916: Histories and Legacies of the Easter Rising – A CentenaryRecord sets the pivotal role of Kerry and its people in its rightful context of the wider revolutionary period in Ireland.

‘Absorbing … significant … important’ (Professor Joe Lee)

Now available in all good bookshops and from www.kerry1916book.com