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Martin Moore with his new book ‘Deeds Not Words’.
A TRALEE-BASED author has just released a new book in time for Christmas.
Listowel native Martin Moore now lives in Tralee where he has an accountancy business, but he also has a passion for local history.
He has already written ‘The Call To Arms’ which examined the military career of Thomas McEllistrim, but he now turned his attention to another famous Kerry family in ‘Deeds Not Words’.
The quest for knowledge of our place has enduring fascination and add in a time of turbulent military, political and religious flux and you have the ingredients for compelling history.
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In ‘Deeds Not Words’, the role of the Fitzmaurices, Lords of Kerry, in the Tudor Years is reviewed, updated and presented in a most refreshing and readable manner.
This book looks at Kerry, principally from the years 1550 to 1603 and over a span of three generations.
These were times of Renaissance, Reformation and Counter-Reformation and the author brings his skills to weave a story as to how the Lords of Kerry dealt with local, national and international events of those times.
‘Deeds Not Words’ gives the background to the Fitzmaurice family, and how they fitted into the complex political world of sixteenth century Ireland. Their sphere of influence extended from Fenit to Abbeyfeale and northwards to include, Ardfert, Ballybunion, Beale, Listowel and Lixnaw.
Thomas Fitzmaurice, was an unlikely successor to the title Lord of Kerry, being the youngest of four sons.
The story of his succession is timeless, not least as he was then serving as a mercenary in Milan.
With his marriage to the daughter of the Earl of Desmond, it seemed that the family was destined to live out a quiet life. But these were eventful times and Thomas clashed with his neighbours, the O’Connor-Kerry family and with the Earls of Desmond.
The book is full of compelling interest and Thomas came to the attention of contemporaries such as Walter Raleigh, Holinshed the historian and indeed to Queen Elizabth I.
The highlights include a detailed re-appraisal of the Battle of Lixnaw, (1568), the Kerry involvement in the Desmond Rebellions (1569-1583), the Spanish Armada (1588) and the Nine Years’ War (1594-1603). In these years Thomas was succeeded by his son, Patrick, (1550-1600) and grand-son, Thomas (1574-1630). Other notable events covered include the escape of Thomas’ sons from Limerick Jail and the involvement of double agents with the Fitzmaurices.
‘Deeds Not Words’ gives a terrific summary of all these events, and much more. The book is available in O’Mahonys, Polymath and Manor News in Tralee, Woulfes of Listowel, Stacks of Lixnaw and Horgans of Ardfert.
