West Kerry troubles and tragedy feature in historical journal

WEST Kerry features strongly in the latest edition of the Journal of the Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society, which will be launched by local historian, author and retired history teacher Pat Neligan in Dingle Library on Thursday, February 7, at 7pm.

All five articles in this edition of the Journal have a direct link to West Kerry and the topics range from smuggling to archaeology to local folklore.

The Journal includes Dr Conor Brosnan’s account of ‘Smuggling in Dingle in the 18th and 19th Centuries’, and ‘Bád na nGort Dubh’ by Dáithí de Mordha, which details how 21 Gorta Dubha men were drowned near the Blaskets during a clash with crews from Dún Chaoin over the salvage of a stricken ship in January 1818. Both Conor and Dáithí delivered lectures on these topics to full houses in Mara Beo during last year’s Maritime Weekend and they will no doubt be as fascinating in print as they were in the spoken word.

The Journal also offers an article by Dr Toby Barnard (University of Oxford) entitled ‘Petticoat Government? The borough of Dingle during the 1770s’, along with Dr James O’Driscoll’s (University of Aberdeen) - ‘Archaeology of the Hillforts of Faha and Caherconree’, and Kay Caball’s account of ‘Quakers in Kerry During the Famine’.

Some of the authors will be at the launch and everyone is welcome to attend, but given the level of interest in local history in West Kerry it might be a good idea to arrive early to have a hope of getting a foot inside the door.