Public’s Help Wanted In Compiling 1916 History Book

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Arthur Spring 2

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Bridget McAuliffe and Owen O’Shea, who are seeking material for inclusion in a new book on Kerry and the 1916 Rising which they are editing, pictured at the Padraig Pearse monument in Tralee.

KERRY people’s involvement in the events leading up to and during the 1916 Rising is to be presented in a new book that is set to released next year to coincide with the State’s 1916 Centenary Commemorations.

And the three co-editors working together on this project are looking for the public’s help at an event in Tralee next month.

Radio Kerry’s Owen O’Shea from Milltown and Bridget McAuliffe from Duagh along with history editor, Dr Mary McAuliffe of University College Dublin, a native of Duagh are the team involved.

They are asking anyone whose family members were involved in events during this time period to bring relevant material to the Revolutionary Decade Roadshow which is set to take place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, October 3 at the Kerins O’Rahillys GAA club, Strand Road.

The book will present detailed biographies of the many Kerry people who were involved not only in Kerry, but around the country and in Dublin during the actual Rising. These biographies will be accompanied, where possible, by photographs of the participants.

They are asking the public to bring along any material – photographs, pamphlets, poems, songs, memoirs, notes – relating to those involved in the Rising, in Dublin, Kerry and elsewhere. Items will be scanned and returned to the owners on the day.

“Frequently local and national histories intersect. In order to fully understand the socio-political context of 1916, local histories are vital. We are inviting anybody who has information on their relative’s involvement in this period in Kerry to come along to the Revolutionary Roadshow and bring any relevant items of interest with them on the day,” said Dr McAuliffe.

Dr McAuliffe, who is an expert on Cumann na mBan and revolutionary women, will be available at the Roadshow on October 3rd to discuss any queries regarding women and their roles in the Rising period. She is also happy to look at and evaluate the historical association of material and artefacts brought in on the day.

The book, which will be published early next year, will contain essays by historians on Austin Stack, Roger Casement, The O’Rahilly, Thomas Ashe, Fionán Lynch, Thomas MacGreevy, Cumann na mBan, the Kerry GAA and revolution, the drownings at Ballykissane Pier, and the Irish Volunteers in Kerry.

The book will also contain an overview of the Rising and also of the socio-political and cultural life in Kerry at the time.

Further information is available from Bridget McAuliffe on 087 2342005 and at kerry1916book@gmail.com

One Comment

  1. Richard Fennell says:

    The vast majority of the Irish were not involved in the “Rising”. My grand aunt was a telephonist on duty in the Tralee Post Office on 21 April 1916 when Roger Casement was apprehended. She heard some of what was going on and had no idea what was happening. The name Roger Casement meant nothing to her and continued to put through calls to and from the military and the police. Her name was Delia Murphy from Cork and told me about this when I worked there 50 years ago. She left the Post Office or Posts and Telegraphs as it was and worked in Roche’s Stores, Patrick Street, Cork until she retired.

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