Kenmare - History and Survival: Fr John O'Sullivan and the Famine Poor

by Colum Kenny

Overview

This is the story of a remarkable man’s efforts to help starving people during the Irish Great Famine. It reveals their terrible experiences inside and outside one of the national ‘workhouses’ and throws new light on the relationship between class, religion, and poverty in Ireland before independence.

John O’Sullivan (1807-1874) was an independent-minded priest who clashed with bishops and landlords. He kept journals that have not been published. The author mines these and other sources, including eyewitness accounts, UK archives and Kerry’s workhouse minutes, for new insights into aspects of Irish society, including politics, proselytism, and the status of women.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913934156
Publisher:	Wordwell Books
Publication date:	04/13/2022
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Dr. Colum Kenny BL is Professor Emeritus, Dublin City University, a journalist and an honorary bencher of King’s Inns. Awarded the Irish Legal History Society’s Gold Medal, his books include histories of King’s Inns, an account of Irish emigration to the USA and, most recently, a biography of Arthur Griffith.

Table of Contents

Dr Colum Kenny is a well-known contributor to Irish media, and Professor Emeritus at Dublin City University. His books include King's Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland 1541-1800 and The Enigma of Arthur Griffith: 'Father of Us All'.

Foreword viii

1 Smeared with Blood 1

2 Macaulay's Myth: Settlers and 'Kerry Savages', 1655-1855 15

3 The Foundation of Kenmare Town, 1775-1839 25

4 John O'Sullivan: A Tralee Youth, 1807-1830 32

5 Piping and Proselytism: Dingle, 1831-1839 40

6 The Poor of Kenmare 55

7 A New Priest and Old Whiskey, 1839-1844 69

8 Paupers and Potatoes, 1845-1846 85

9 Famine: 'immeasurably worse', 1847 94

10 Crawling and Rising, 1848 110

11 Westminster and the Workhouse, 1849 121

12 Panic and Exodus, 1849-1853 139

13 Fr John, Politics and Young Ireland 155

14 Converts and Conflict at Dromore Castle 174

15 The Kicking and Death of Rev. Denis Mahony 185

16 Amazon, Slattern or Saint? Women of Kenmare 200

17 After the Famine 219

18 Kenmare Today 243

Acknowledgements 247

Bibliography 249

Notes 266

Index 292