The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Notable figures who passed
BISHOP EAMON CASEY
THE controversial former Bishop of Kerry and Galway died on March 13 at the age of 89.
Casey had spent his final years in a nursing home in Clare battling a serious illness.
The cleric – who hailed from Firies and who was Bishop of Kerry from 1969 to 1976 – is best known for the scandal that erupted in May 1992 when it emerged that he was the father of a teenage son, following an affair with an American woman when he was Bishop of Kerry in the 1970s.,
GARDA JOHN COURTNEY
THE west Kerry born former head of the Garda Murder Squad passed away at his home in Dublin in July aged 89.
Mr Courtney – who was born in Annascaul and maintained close links with his home –led the investigations into some of the most infamous events of the 1980s including he murder of nurse Bridie Gargan by Malcolm MacArthur; the IRA kidnappings of Don Tidey and Tiede Herrema; the assassination of Lord Mountbatten; the Kerry Babies investigation and the killing of SAS secret agent Robert Nairac. He led the murder sqund until his retirement, as a Chief Superintendent, in 1991.
IRA INFORMER SEAN ‘THE JACKAL’ O’CALLAGHAN
THE Tralee born former IRA man who turned informer and became one of the State’s most important spies inside the IRA died in August.
O’Callaghan (62) – who blew the whistle on the Marita Ann gun running operation – died when he suffered a suspected heart attack while visiting his daughter.
AUTHOR AND POET DOMHNALL MAC SÍTHIGH
FRIENDS, family, and President Michael D Higgins paid tribute in June to west Kerry all-rounder Domhnall Mac Síthigh, as the 66-year-old father-of-three died after a tragic boating incident at the mouth of the river Minho on the Spanish-Portuguese border.
Mr Mac Síthigh, a supremely experienced boatman, was part of a crew participating in Ionramh an Chamino 2017, a month-long expedition in which a crew was to row a small ‘naomhóg’ boat from La Coruna, Spain, to Porto, Portugal. He had undertaken many similar journeys throughout his life-time, including a 1975 circumnavigation of Ireland with Ger Ó Ciobhán and journeys to destinations such as Scotland, Iceland and Santiago de Compostela.
On the evening of June 9, a freak wave overturned the boat, which also contained Padraig Ó Duinnín, and musicians Breandán Ó Beaglaioch and Liam Ó Maonlaí.
The crew stayed with the upturned vessel on its drift to shore, but the Baile Eaglaise man took ill after the capsizing, and despite efforts by emergency services and locals, Mr Mac Síthigh couldn’t be revived.
An award-winning author and poet, Mr Mac Síthigh’s love of the sea had never dimmed since joining a local on a boat trip from Baile an Challa some 60 years ago. He was renowned for his deep knowledge of all things Corca Dhuibhne and throughout his lifetime he had shown flair not only for literary work and seafaring, but also hill-walking, farming, craft-work, stonework, and broadcasting.
Thinking back on his love of construction, his nephew, RTÉ reporter Seán Mac an tSíthigh, recalled his timebuilding Charlie Haughey’s holiday home on one of the Blasket Islands, while President Higgins praised him his contribution to the Irish language and his many great sea journeys. Condolences were extended to his wife Máire; son Cormac; daughters Róisín and Orla; and his five siblings.