Launch of ‘Rebel Kerry’ – from the archives a of The Kerryman

‘REBEL Kerry’, the new book from The Kerryman, has been officially launched at the paper’s head office in Tralee.

A large crowd gathered at the paper’s offices on Denny Street last Wednesday evening for the launch of the title which has been published in conjunction with Mercier Press.

‘Rebel Kerry’ has combined articles and images from The Kerryman’s 2016 Easter Rising Centenary supplements with additional material from the paper’s archives and new articles by leading historians Ryle Dwyer and Helene O’Keeffe.

“Basically what we wanted to do was give readers an easy and accessible route into Kerry’s rebel story,” said the book’s editor Kerryman Journalist Simon Brouder.

“While we explore key events and players like Casement, Ashe and O’Rahilly, we also wanted to highlight the less familiar men and women who took part in the struggle,” Simon explained.

“These are, for example, people like Batt O’Connor – a genius builder who was essentially Q to Michael Collins’ Bond – or Tadhg Kennedy who was one of the IRA’s most capable intelligence officers,” said Simon.

“In addition, there are many events like the siege of Tralee that have been largely written out of the history books and which, we feel, warrant much greater study,” he continued.

“There’s also The Kerryman’s own part in the struggle. That saw one of our founders rounded up after the Rising; the paper subjected to the first ever press repression order signed by General Maxwell in Dublin Castle and eventually to the Black and Tans blowing up the printing presses and shutting down the paper.

“There are some fascinating stories in this book and we’re sure people will enjoy dipping in and out of it. I certainly hope so,” Simon added.

He also paid tribute to the team at Mercier Press and The

Kerryman’s Tommy King, without whose help the book would not have been possible.

Rebel Kerry – costing just €16.99 – is on sale now in all good bookshops and from The

Kerryman’s offices at Denny Street in Tralee.

Historians Ryle Dwyer and Helene O’Keeffe who contributed several chapters to ‘Rebel Kerry’, pictured with Kerryman MD John Feerick (second from left) and the book’s editor Kerryman journalist Simon Brouder.

Kerryman Editor Kevin Hughes; historians Ryle Dwyer and Helene O’Keeffe; Kerryman MD John Feerick; Noel O’Regan of Mercier Press and Kerryman journalist Simon Brouder at the launch.

Cllr Norma Foley; Beatrice Caball and Sharon Browne at the ‘Rebel Kerry’ book launch in Tralee last Wednesday evening.

Noel O’Regan, Mercier Press; historian Ryle Dwyer and Sean Dwyer iat the launch of Rebel Kerry at The Kerryman office in Tralee.

Bridget O’Connor from Camp, Kerryman Managing Director John Feerick and Anne Fitzgerald at the Rebel Kerry launch.

Danny Cooper of The Kerryman and Fr Padraig Walsh at the launch of ‘Rebel Kerry’.

Former Mayor of Tralee Johnnie Wall and The Kerryman’s Siobhan Murphy at the book launch.

Notes writerJenny Carter and Liam Hassett, from Killorglin, at the launch in Tralee.

Kerryman Editor Kevin Hughes addresses guests at the ‘Rebel Kerry’ book launch