Cló Staire Chiarraí is delighted to announce that the History of the Parishes of Rathmore, Gneeveguilla and Knocknagree written by Fr. William Ferris in the mid 1920s is finally to be published after 100 years.
After three years work on the original manuscript by editor Brendan McCarthy, the book will finally see the light of day in Spring 2024.
Second in the series of Fr. Ferris’s Parish Histories, the History of the Parishes of Rathmore, Gneeveguilla and Knocknagree is a unique record of the rich history, culture and heritage of the Sliabh Luachra/Duhallow area and comprises a genealogical archive of the families of the three parishes involving some 1,118 individuals named in the book.
Whiteboys and Moonlighters
It also includes a social and cultural archive, e.g. Penal Days , the famine, hedge schools and masters, National Schools with lists of teachers, holy wells, old cemeteries, Irish language, church history, clergy, local poets, musicians, writers, etc.
There’s also an archaeological survey of the three parishes with: a place name and field name inventory; a topographical survey of the parishes; the story of the Whiteboy insurrection of 1821/22 in Sliabh Luachra and Duhallow; a detailed account of the Land War of the 1880s with a listing of landlords and middlemen; evictions, local ‘Moonlighters’, Land League members, prisoners, policing and coercion.
Detailed Parish Chronicle
The book includes an account of the War of Independence in Sliabh Luachra and Duhallow with a survey of hunting and fishing in the parishes in the 1920s and a detailed parish chronicle.
Much of this material was collected by Fr. Ferris from parishioners in the course of station masses in the parishes and as such is no dry academic chronicle.
It is history as lived and recounted by the ordinary people of Sliabh Luachra and Duhallow and their authentic voices come through clearly.
A Fascinating Individual
In addition, in the introduction to the book, the editor provides a biographical portrait of Fr. Ferris who was a fascinating individual in his own right.
So if you come from these parishes or if any of your forebears came from this area, then it is likely that your family features in this book.
You may discover where they lived, where they went to school, who their teachers were, who their landlord/middleman was, how they were affected by the famine, whether they were evicted,whether they were involved in the Land War, etc.
With a limited print-run, this fully-indexed book is destined to be a collector’s item.
About Fr. William Ferris
Fr. William Ferris, 1881-1971, was a priest of the Kerry Diocese and served in many parishes during his career.
He was in Listowel from 1914 to 15; Firies 1915-18; Tralee 1918-22; Army Chaplain from 1922 to 24; Rathmore 1924-28; Ballymacelligott 1929-34; Millstreet 1934-35; Allihies 1935-38; Glenflesk 1938-43 and Ballylongford from 1943 to 69.
Fr. Ferris died in 1971 aged 90 years and is buried in the church grounds in Ballylongford.
During his life he published six books, including his major political work The Gaelic Commonwealth in1923 and The Story of Man in 1948. The latter was a book that proved very controversial.
He wrote five parish histories of which his History of the Parishes of Rathmore, Gneeveguilla and Knocknagree is the second to be published in full.
About Editor Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy, a native of Tralee, Co. Kerry and is a graduate of University College Dublin and a solicitor by profession.
After a twenty five year legal career in London, he now pursues his interest as a local historian, his current area of research being Fr William Ferris’s unpublished histories of Kerry parishes.
For further details and to pre-order the book you’re advised to go to: www.rathmorehistory.com or e-mail Mr. McCarthy at rathmorehistory@gmail.com
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