KERRY HIT BY HIGHEST DAILY RAINFALL IN 80 YEARS
POSTERS by Tralee historian Gerald O’Carroll to coincide with Tralee 800 celebrations and similar celebrations elsewhere offer ‘a history course in a single A2 page,’ and are available for free to schools.
‘Na Gearaltaigh agus Oidhreacht na Mumhan’ and its English equivalent ‘History at a Glance’ plot their details in timeline form, to make their information more appealing to a wider audience. The posters focus on the Fitzgeralds: Earls of Desmond, and take readers from Pope Adrian IV granting Ireland to King Henry II in 1155, all the way through to the death of the Súgán Earl at the Tower of London in the early 17th century.
While loaded with information, the timelines consists of snappy, accessible paragraphs. Gerald, a former history teacher now based in Dooradoyle county Limerick, wants to provide children with information from outside the current history syllabus.
“I’m bringing information to them in an accessible, colourful form,” he said. “That’s one of the aspects of this poster that people tell me they like
“It will also encourage them to learn about events outside of their locality. as the entries are accompanied by mentions of international happenings, thereby offering a worldwide context for readers,” Gerald explained. “I feel this is a valuable feature of the wallchart because it’s important to know what’s happened elsewhere.”
“I’ve also included a pedigree of the Fitzgeralds from the First Earl Muiris Mac Thomáis through to the Súgán Earl,” he added.
The posters, on offer in either English or Irish, will soon be available from The Kerryman’s building on Denny Street, free of charge to schools.
A free digital version of the wallchart can also be obtained by contacting Gerald. He can be emailed at geraldocarroll1@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can phone him at (086) 351 9635.