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At the launch of Tralee 800 Conference were, from left: Kathleen Browne (Kerry Archaeological Society), Noreen O’Connor (Tralee Municipal District), Tony Bergin (Kerry Archaeological Society), Vincent O’Mahony (Speaker), Terry O’Brien (Mayor of Tralee), John Griffin (Kerry County Council), Helen O’Carroll (Kerry County Museum) and Maureen Hannafin (Kerry Archaeological Society). Photo of Gavin O’Connor.
A TWO-DAY conference that will explore the 800 year history of Tralee and earlier will take place in Siamsa Tíre Theatre and the Rose Hotel, Tralee on the weekend of November 4th and 5th next.
The conference will be officially opened in Siamsa Tíre on Friday evening, November 4th by former Tánaiste Dick Spring, who will give the keynote address, and continue in the Rose Hotel on Saturday.
The Conference is jointly organised by the Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society (KAHS) and Tralee Municipal District and supported by Kerry County Council.
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The Mayor of Tralee, Cllr. Terry O’Brien, has welcomed the initiative of the KAHS which is the first of its kind and forms part of the town’s Tralee 800 Programme.
“Tralee is one of Ireland’s oldest towns with a very eventful history that needs to be uncovered and shared. It’s part of what we are and where we have come from”, he said, at the media launch for the conference in Siamsa Tíre on Tuesday.
“The pivotal role that Tralee played in Kerry, Munster and Irish history needs to be highlighted. The town was founded by John FitzThomas Fitzgerald in 1216 and was capital of the Munster Geraldine territory that extended at one stage from Tralee to East Cork until the Desmond Wars of 1580. The Fitzgeralds were succeeded by the Dennys, English settlers, who dominated the history of the town for the next 350 years and retained its status as capital of County Kerry. Equally appealing will be the development of Tralee and future plans for the town,” he said.
Ms. Maureen Hanafin, President, Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society, said the society was pleased to be associated with the Tralee 800 Conference. “Our role is the collection, recording, study of the history and antiquities of County Kerry and the history of Tralee is very much part of this” she said.
“While a considerable amount of research has been written done and presented on the different periods, it’s the collective, pulling it all together, that should make for a very fascinating conference.”
Conference speakers will include those who have helped to unlock Tralee’s pre-history like county archaeologist, Michael Connolly, and those who have studied its turbulent medieval history like Dr. Paul MacCotter from UCC, and the industrious 18th and 19th century with historians Helen O’Carroll and Vincent O’Mahony.
Members of the two families that dominated the history of Tralee – the Fitzgeralds and the Dennys – will also be in attendance with Tom Denny presenting an illustrated lecture on ‘The Dennys of Tralee’ which includes recently discovered photographs of Tralee dating from the 1860s.
Town Planner, Victoria McCarthy will trace the physical development of Tralee and Tralee Municipal District Manager, Michael Scannell, will look to the future in the closing address.
There is free admission to the opening session of the conference on Friday night in Siamsa Tíre but tickets are limited and need to be reserved in advance at the Siamsa Tíre Box Office.
There is a €10 admission fee to the lectures on Saturday in the Rose Hotel which may be booked at the Tralee Chamber Alliance Office, Denny Street or online at the Tralee.ie website.
Will the conference discuss the massive growth of immigration to the town.
The levels are out of control and the native Irish demographic is at risk for the first time in the Islands history!