The link between the Kerry village of Knocknagoshel and Charles Stewart Parnell.
The history of the village of Knocknagoshel in north east Kerry made its presence felt in the life of Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party and the Home Rule League of the nineteenth century.
In 1891 Parnell was due to address a rally in Newcastle West, County Limerick. Political challenges of the day were par for the course, but it was his relationship with divorcée Katherine O'Shea that cemented the Catholic clergy’s opposition to him, which in turn influenced public opinion.
Local writer and retired schoolteacher Seamus O’Connor explains how, in advance of the rally, rumours emerged that local priest Reverend William Casey of Abbeyfeale was attempting to prevent Charles Stewart Parnell from speaking. Fr Casey was a follower of Michael Davitt and an active member of the Land League but took a moral stance on Parnell’s personal life.
A group of men under the leadership of shoemaker Eugene Breen marched from Knocknagoshel to Abbeyfeale in support of Parnell. They succeeded in facilitating the onward journey to Newcastle West, where the mass meeting went ahead.
It was one of the last speeches Parnell ever made.
Eugene Breen was also responsible for the wording of the banner carried by the Parnellites, which caught the attention of the national press.
Arise Knocknagoshel, and take your place among the nations of the Earth
A reproduction is still in existence and is part of Knocknagoshel annual autumn celebrations.
This episode of 'Hometown’ was broadcast on RTÉ Radio on 8 December 1969. It was presented by Rory O’Connor.
