CAHERDANIEL ICON HONOURED

THE people of Caherdaniel and Castlecove gathered at the weekend to honour local and national icons of Ireland’s long fight for independence.

On Sunday twin events were held in the two south Kerry villages with hundreds attending both ceremonies on a glorious Spring afternoon.

The day’s events began in Castlecove where guest of honour TD Éamon Ó’Cuív officially opened a garden of remembrance dedicated to those who fought and died in the Easter Rising.

O’Cuív – the grandson of Éamon de Valera – was joined at the ceremony by Kerry County Council CEO Moira Murrell and a number of political dignitaries.

After the ceremony in Castlecove drew to a close the commemorations moved to Caherdaniel where the role of local woman Kathleen O’Connell in the independence struggle was recognised.

In the course of her life O’Connell, who passed away in 1956 aged 68, was at the very centre of some of Ireland’s defining events.

Her fascinating life took her form south Kerry to New York where she became secretary of the local Gaelic League. Thanks to that role she would go on to work closely with figures including The O’Rahily, Terence McSwiney, Harry Boland, Thomas Ashe and Michael Collins.

She would eventually become De Valera’s secretary and one of his key aides. She was constantly at De Valera’s side and was privy to some of the greatest secrets of the Irish Independence movement.

She remained on De Valera’s staff until the mid 1940s.

On Sunday Deputy Ó’Cuív unveiled a plaque at the house in which O’Connell was born – at Caherdaniel village crossroads – on October 5 1888.

The house is now owned by O’Connell’s descendants the Kelly family.

Addressing the large crowd Ó’Cuív recalled how his grandfather had often spoken in glowing terms about his tirelesss and dedicated right hand woman.

After the ceremony there was an opportunity to learn more about her intriguing life.

In the parish hall Dr Tim Horgan and Padraig O`Conchubhair delivered lectures on O’Connell and on another prominent local republican woman Gobnait Ní Bhruadair.

Photos courtesy of South Kerry Advertiser Pictured at the unveiling of the plaque to Kathleen O’Connell in Caherdenaiel were (from left) Jerry Clifford, John McAllen, Brendan O’Leary, Éamon Ó’Cuív TD, John Joe O’Leary and Noel O’Shea. (Inset) Deputy Ó’Cuív unveils the plaque.

Photo courtesy of Noel O’Shea. Crowds gathered in Castlecove on Sunday for the official opening of the village’s Garden of Remembrance.