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THE Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society remembered and honoured all of those who had died in Tralee and North Kerry during famine times in a lecture, which was delivered by Ballyheigue native Bryan McMahon on Tuesday evening.
Bryan’s book, ‘The Great Famine in Tralee and North Kerry’, was published in 2017 by Mercier Press and it uncovered a great deal of new information on the Famine years.
The lecture was held in what has to have been the most appropriate venue in the area for such an event; the Council Chamber of Kerry County Council.
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The building — which now accommodates Kerry County Council — was in fact originally the Tralee Workhouse. Built in the early 1840s at a cost of £8,557, plus fittings of £1,643, it was designed to accommodate 1000 individuals.
Though it was declared ready for occupancy on the September 1, 1842, it did not witness its first admission until February 1, 1844. A new fever hospital building including convalescent wards for 60 patients was being erected by May 1847.
Introducing the speaker Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society President, Marie O’Sullivan stressed the significance.
She also highlighted the fact of the long association, which has existed between Kerry County Council, Kerry Library Service and the Society.
In fact, the Society was founded on May 3, 1967, at a meeting in the Council Chamber, which was then located in the Ashe Memorial Hall, Denny Street, Tralee.
Its foundation at the time owed much to the foresight of the then County librarian Tom Armitage and others including two members of his staff Margaret Stack and Kathleen Turner, who succeeded him as county librarian Kathleen Browne.
Today, she stressed that link remains as the Society continues to be hugely indebted to the support of Kerry Library Service, county librarian Tommy O’Connor and his staff.
The large attendance included two special guests, Maile Melrose and her sister Amanda Barnes from Hawaii.
They are the descendants of Lt H. N. Greenwell, a government official in Kerry during the Famine, whose manuscript journal is an important source of information on those times.
The original journal is kept in Hawaii, but a digital copy is now in Kerry County Archives, thanks to Maile and Amanda.
Marie extended the Society’s gratitude to Kerry County Council and its chief executive Moira Murrell for hosting the lecture.
For further details on the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society please visit www.kerryhistory.ie
