Kerryman’s story explored in new book on regional press

THE Kerryman is one of the two main papers featured in a new book on the history of Ireland’s regional media.

The book ‘The Irish Regional Press 1892-2018: Revival, Revolution and Republic’ contains a detailed chapter on The Kerryman which was contributed by Tralee-born academic Mark O’Brien, an Associate Professor at the School of Communications at Dublin City University.

The Kerryman features as one of only two newspapers whose histories are examined in standalone chapters in a new book which has just been published by Dublin’s Four Courts Press.

In the book Professor O’Brien takes a detailed look at the history of The Kerryman, examining several key episodes in this paper’s 114-year history.

These include the paper’s battles with the British establishment and the Black and Tans during the War of Independence and, decades later, The Kerryman’s defiant stance in the face of death threats and attempted bomb attacks by the IRA.

There is also a fascinating look back at the paper’s clashes with the Government censor – Tralee man Michael Knightly, whose sister was married to Thomas Nolan, father of Dan Nolan, who ran the paper for many decades – during World War Two. Those battles centred on the paper’s coverage of the execution of Charlie Kerins.

The hardback book – which costs €45 – can be purchased via www.fourcourtspress.ie.

Professor Mark O’Brien whose detailed history of The Kerryman features in a new book on the Irish regional media.