A booklet on the life of the Abbeyfeale cleric, Rev. William Casey will be launched by former Fianna Fáil government Minister and MEP, Gerry Collins at the Glórach Theatre, Abbeyfeale on this Friday night, November 11th at 7.30pm.
On the route through the town of Abbeyfeale, the commanding and towering monument to Rev. William Casey rises to a lofty height in The Square.
The imposing statue of the patriot pastor, and one-time local parish priest who fought fearlessly on behalf of tenants during the Land War, speaks out to us, even as modern life goes on around it.
Erected in 1910
The highly artistic monument was erected in 1910, three years after the death of Rev Casey,
following a fundraising campaign chaired by J D Harnett. Indeed, it was J D Harnett who wrote an informative and now very rare booklet about the famous priest soon after he died in1907.
Over the county bounds, in Castleisland, Rev Casey is fondly recalled as the priest who worked with their own pastor, Fr. Arthur Murphy, in the national cause.
Johnnie Roche, chairman of Castleisland District Heritage, recalls how, in his youth, older people still revered the names of Fr. Casey and Fr. Murphy.
Appointed to Brosna
“When Fr. Arthur was appointed to the parish of Brosna years later, both men resumed their co-operation and worked together to get results for their areas and people.
The iconic sketch of their ‘Clasping hands across The Feale’ states more than words can express about two of Ireland’s patriot heroes,” Mr. Roche.
Recently, Castleisland District Heritage acquired a copy of J D Harnett’s publication and decided to reproduce it for a new generation.
Kerry and Limerick Joined
By strange coincidence, Maurice O’Connell, chairperson of Abbeyfeale Community Council, visited the offices of CDH in The Island Centre, Main Street, on an unrelated matter, and there, Kerry and Limerick once again joined hands to work together on this worthy project.
Maurice O’Connell hopes that the publication will help new generations learn how the genuine guidance and support that the underprivileged and down-trodden in the West Limerick and North Kerry areas looked for and received from their pastors in those hard times came about.
Superstars of the Day
“For all the icons of the modern world and those we look up to in faraway places, the excitement and charged atmosphere that was once right on our own doorstep, approximately 140 years ago, with crowds of 3,000-10,000 plus gathering locally to hear what the iconic leaders of the day had to say must have been nothing short of electrifying. They were the superstars of the day,” he said.
Maurice credited the work of J D Harnett of Abbeyfeale, a well-known and much-admired figure throughout the region due to his reporting on the monster meetings and support of the national cause. Brigid Harnett, J D Harnett’s granddaughter, has conveyed her family’s thanks in providing this opportunity for the present generation to learn from the struggles of the past.
Original Title Retained
The booklet, which retains its original title, A Sketch of the Life of Rev Wm Casey, PP, of Abbeyfeale, and is reproduced in its original A5 format with additional front matter and a powerful depiction of Rev Casey’s rescue of four young men from drowning by CDH illustrator Noel Nash, will be on sale at the launch and will be available in local outlets.
It can also be purchased online via the website of Castleisland District Heritage or by dropping in to: Unit 7 The Island Centre / Main Street / Castleisland / Co Kerry / Ireland / V92 F8RF
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