Farranfore unveils 1916 memorial

FARRANFORE has now taken its place among the towns and villages of Ireland after a special unveiling ceremony to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising took place on Sunday last. Crowds gathered in the village to unveil a monument of the 1916 Proclamation which has been skillfully inset on a limestone boulder that is sure to last the test of time. As well as honouring and acknowledging the sacrifices of the men and women in that seismic event 100-years ago, the ceremony was also timed to coincide with the release of internees in the Frongoch prison camp in December, 1916.

The Farranfore 1916 memorial was blessed by Parish Priest Fr. Tadhg O Dochartaigh and the 1916 proclamation was read by Fr. Sean Horgan. Guest Speaker on the day was Dr Tim Horgan who not only gave a powerful account of Farranfore’s involvement and its connections with the events of 1916, but also shared with those present a truly historical and priceless artefact - a tricolour believed to have been brought ashore by Captain Robert Monteith at Banna Strand, which was the first time the flag has been seen in public.

Chairman of the Farranfore Development Association, Richard Sherwood, thanked those involved in making the memorial possible and Cllr Brendan Cronin, Mayor of the Killarney Area District, then raised the tricolour and spoke of how the events of the revolutionary period 100-years ago touched in some way every home and family in the county.

The ceremony was brought to a close by the singing of Amhrán na bhFiann; a moment embellished by local musicians Brid and Michael O’Shea.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Dr Tim Horgan, Cllr Brendan Cronin Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Donal Grady, Moira Murrell CEO Kerry County Council, Deputy Danny Healy Rae, Cllr Donal Grady, Richard Sherwood and John O’Donoghue Farranfore Development Association at the 1916 Commemoration in...

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Senator Mark Daly, Deputy John Brassil and locals at the 1916 event in Farranfore on Sunday.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Dan Ahern Farranfore Development Association, Dr Tim Horgan, Cllr Brendan Cronin Mayor of Kerry, Fr Sean Horgan, Fr Tadhg Doherty, Richard Sherwood Farranfore Development Association and John O’Donoghue Farranfore Development Association with the 1916...