Plaque unveiled at Monsignor’s Cahersiveen home

THE strong Kerry connections with Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty will never be forgotten in Kerry and to mark some of the key locations connected with the ‘Vatican Pimpernel’, commemorative plaques have been placed in key locations across the county and not least his first home in Kerry in Tralee.

The latest location to have a commemorative plaque put in place is Cahersiveen where a plaque now takes pride of place in his last home in the county and has been welcomed by his family.

This is located at the former Christy Sheehan’s shop on Main Street where the Monsignor spent the last three years of his life with his sister Brid and her husband Christy and, where he died on October 30, 1963.

The building is now owned by Jack O’Riordan who has overseen a beautiful refurbishment of this unique building including its unusual first floor bay windows. Following the restorations works a commemorative plaque was put in place to mark the important of this historic location.

Monsignor O’Flaherty was known as the The Vatican Pimpernel thanks to his work in helping thousands escape the Nazis in Rome. Monsignor O’Flaherty spent his first two years of his childhood in Tralee before his family including parents, James and Margaret moved to Kilgarvan, where he and his family lived at Churchground. His father was in the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the family were moved to Kilgarvan after he was posted there. It is hoped in time to add a commemorative plaque to his residence in the village. He also lived in Killarney, first in what is now Brú na Páirc Irish language school close to Tesco, but what was then part of Killarney Golf Club, who his father took up the position of steward with, after he retired from the RIC.

The family later bought a pub on Plunkett Street near The Dunloe, and also later lived in Mangerton, where Hugh had intended to live upon his return from Rome. Such locations have all been marked by a commemorative plaques.

The Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society have long campaigned and worked to ensure that the Kerry man is remembered in his home place.

Though the society has now taken a back seat having accomplished much of what they set out to do one of their projects was to mark locations associated with the historical figure.

“We have identified all of his residences of note,” said chairman Jerry O’Grady who has welcomed the recent plaque.

Photoby Christy Riordan The new plaque at the former Christy Sheehan’s shop where Monsignor O’Flaherty lived in Cahersiveen.