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Looking over a March 1918 edition of The Freeman’s Journal at the opening of the exhibition were, at back; Eddie Barrett, a grandnephew of Austin Stack; Clementine O’Keeffe, a granddaughter of James Crowley, Mary Lynch, granddaughter of Fionán Lynch and John Beazley, a cousin of Piaras Béaslaí. In front is Leas Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council John Joe Culloty and County Archivist Michael Lynch. Photo by Dermot Crean
AN exhibition to mark the centenary of the 1918 general election and the First Dáil was officially opened by the Leas Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council on Saturday at Tralee Library.
Relatives of the first Kerry TDs were in attendance at the opening of the exhibition which features information on the four Kerry men who were elected MPs at the December 1918 election and subsequently took their seats in the newly established Dáil Éireann.
The display on the first four Kerry TDs – Austin Stack, James Crowley, Fionán Lynch and Piaras Béaslaí – forms part of the Kerry County Council Commemorations Programme.
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Austin Stack (West Kerry), James Crowley (North Kerry), Fionán Lynch (South Kerry) and Piarais Béaslaí (East Kerry) were each elected, unopposed, to the House of Commons on 14 December 1918 but declined to take their seats, choosing instead to sit as members of the First Dáil.
Béaslaí was the only Kerry TD present with the Dáil met at the Mansion House on January 21, 1919 – the others were in jail – and he read the Democratic Programme of the Dáil to those present.
Information panels – featuring details of the four TDs as well as the foundation of the First Dáil – will be open to the public over the coming months, with the capacity to have the display moved to other locations around the county.
Granddaughter of James Crowley, Clementine O’Keeffe, Kerry County Arts Officer Kate Kennelly, Michael Lynch, County Archivist, and Tommy O’Connor, County Librarian looking over a March 1918 edition of the Freeman’s Journalat the opening of the exhibition. Photo by Dermot Crean
Part of the exhibition at the Library.
Some of the people in attendance at the opening.
