History as once-banned book is launched

IT’S be a moment some 85 years in the making: on June 7, Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne will launch a book that was banned by his predecessor, Bishop Michael O’Brien.

Editor Brendan McCarthy has put in five years of work to finally bring Fr William Ferris’ Histories of BallymacElligott, Ballyseedy, O’Brennan and Novohal to publication – and it brought no small amount of joy to Mr McCarthy that Bishop Browne will be present at the official 7pm launch next Thursday at Ballygarry House Hotel.

Bishop O’Brien called on Fr Ferris to make changes to the book after taking exception to a claim that St Brendan was born in BallymacElligott rather than Fenit, as had been accepted Diocesan tradition. When Fr Ferris refused, the book was destined for many decades lying in the archives of UCC’s Boole Library and, later, the local history section of Kerry County Library.

“I am delighted the Bishop has agreed to launch the book,” Mr McCarthy told The Kerryman.

“Whatever about St Brendan’s birthplace, I think it’s fitting after all this time that we pay tribute to Fr Ferris, who devoted a lifetime’s labour to preserving the history and heritage of the Kerry parishes and communities he served.”

The vast archive of local history was the product of extensive research by Fr Ferris alongside parishioners during his Curacy in BallymacElligott in the 1920s and 1930s. Fr Ferris is described by Mr McCarthy as a fascinating character who was involved in Sinn Féin activism, Gaeilge, advocating temperance, and more besides, and he was a highly notable figure in the Kerry diocese.

The fully indexed book features a biography of Fr Ferris as well as much content which will be new to the public, providing a store of local history, genealogy, folk memory, information on place names, and more aside from all that.

“It is,” Mr McCarthy said, “in Fr Ferris’s own words, ‘a history of the people, by the people, for the people’.”

The front and back of the book. Editor Brendan McCarthy is on the left.