Timely lesson for North Kerry in story of Listowel’s Jane Harman

SIR,

It takes a person’s extraordinary achievement to be remembered 500 years later. We remember our history in order not to repeat mistakes and to learn from our ancestors. Who was Jane Harman? Jane was nanny to one Thomas Fitzmaurice, heir to the Fitzmaurice dynasty in North Kerry around 1550. Thomas was second in line and, knowing he would not inherit, he emigrated to Italy where he quickly became Commander of the Army protecting the city of Milan.

A few years passed and the first in line to inherit the Fitzmaurice holding died/was murdered and Thomas was next in line, but he didn’t keep himself aware of what was happening in North Kerry. He was usurped by another instead and Jane Harman, realising the injustice took it upon herself, with her daughter, to walk to Dingle, get a boat to France and walk through France to Milan to inform Thomas of his inheritance who duly returned to North Kerry and regained control over North Kerry. Jane, who must have been at least in her fifties, unfortunately and quite understandably died on the return journey from Milan.

This is an extraordinary, forgotten, story. Analysing Jane’s achievement from a strategic viewpoint what can we learn?

Jane could have left it to someone else, but she didn’t. She displayed leadership in engaging to protect one’s rights, she got involved, to do the right thing. She had no right or obligation to surpass her standing as a servant to assume a leadership role - but she did.

She kept herself fully aware of what was happening in North Kerry and took action to correct the injustice done of Thomas being overlooked.

Did she display pride of place? Ethics ?

This was an epic undertaking - two women venturing on that trip 500 years ago knew when setting out that safety was a huge issue and they might not survive. Consider the language barrier or were they educated in Latin that would allow them converse throughout Europe. Could many of us do this today?

Shackelton’s journeys to the South Pole are well documented as examples in leadership, especially when things go wrong. Jane Harman’s epic journey 400 years earlier is nothing less.

Can we gain inspiration from Jane Harman’s example in today’s North Kerry?

Sincerely,

John O’Sullivan,

Listowel