.
Cllr Jim Finucane launching the ‘Kerry 1916 from the Archives’ exhibition at Tralee Library on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
TRALEE Library is currently hosting a 1916 Commemorative exhibition titled, ‘Kerry 1916 from the Archives’, which was officially opened by Cllr. Jim Finucane, Leas Cathaoirleach, Kerry County Council, on Tuesday, March 22, and will run until Saturday, April 30.
The exhibition comprises extracts from the Kerry Library newspaper collection including The Kerryman, the Kerry Evening Post, the Kerry Weekly Reporter and the Kerry Sentinel as well as material from various 1916 related archives that the library holds.
Sixteen information panels detail the major events that happened in Kerry including the Casement landing, the Firies shootings and the Ballykissane Pier incident while there are also a number of original documents on display for the first time, relating to a prison correspondence as well as excerpts from the archives of Dr. John O’Connell, the then County Coroner.
Tralee Library Archivist, Michael Lynch, speaking at the launch of ‘Kerry 1916 from the Archives’. Photo by Dermot Crean
The exhibition is enhanced by a visual presentation of photographs and images from the Kerry Library collections as well as some 1916 related memorabilia donated by members of the public.
All the major Kerry personnel involved in the Rising are remembered including Tomás Ághas, Fionán Lynch and Roger Casement. Another interesting feature of the exhibition is the map showing places of interest in Tralee’ associated with the Rising and some details of Tralee Cumann na mBan (which was compiled by the Mitchell’s Heritage Group).
The archivist at Kerry Library, Michael Lynch, considers it is a good starting point for people to learn more about the 1916 Rising in Kerry, saying: “it will give a sense of the different events and people who were involved in the Rising in Kerry while also giving an opportunity to view some of the rare material that the Kerry Library research collections hold”.
