News
138-year-old handcrafted furniture returns to Killarney
A PIECE OF HISTORY: James Flynn pictured with the rare 138-year-old piece of handcrafted furniture which he brought back to Killarney from Boston.
By Sean Moriarty
A rare piece of handcrafted furniture, that dates from just after the famine era, has made its way home to Killarney thanks to the efforts of a local woodworking enthusiast.
James Flynn is a former ESB district supervisor for South Kerry. Since his retirement he has devoted his time to tracing the history of Killarney’s Arbutus Furniture Industry and restores pieces that he finds in online auctions all over the world.
In October he discovered a games table for sale in Boston. He bought the beautiful handcrafted item which was only delivered to Killarney late last month.
While he was waiting for the table to arrive he traced the history of his new found purchase. He discovered it was made in a workshop where Reidy’s Bar now stands on Main St. It was made by a local craftsman by the name of James Coakley in 1882 or 1883.
Mr Flynn was able to source an original sales brochure from one of the Boston World Fairs.
The table was listed for sale in the brochure which said it was made by Coakley, further authenticating his new purchase.
The Arbutus Tree, sometimes called the Killarney Strawberry Tree, is more prevalent in Killarney National Park than any other region in the country.
There was huge furniture manufacturing industry in Killarney and particularly in the Gap of Dunloe area between the 1820s up to the close of the industry in 1953.
The American Exhibition of the Products, Arts and Manufactures of Foreign Nations was held in Boston in 1883 and 1884.
“I'm big into the craftsmen of Killarney town and every chance I get I highlight the skills that they had. There are three just like it on display in Muckross House,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “It is a beautiful piece of work but what I am really trying to highlight is the great work that Killarney’s Arbutus craftsmen did. They exported stuff all over the world in the height of the famine. Up to 60 or 70 people were employed in this industry and they competed with some of the best furniture makers in the world. James Coakley of 4 Main Street manufactured the table and he took it to the foreign exhibition with other stuff in 1883.”
Last week Mr Flynn decided to bring the handcrafted piece of furniture back to its correct home and, without telling anyone, put the item on display outside Reidys. He attracted a great deal of local attention from a safe distance.
Ukrainian exhibition brings ‘Towel of Unity’ to Killarney
The Ukrainian community in Kerry presented the international outdoor exhibition “The Towel of Unity – The Towel of Victory” at St Mary’s Church on Saturday.
Organised by Future of Ukrainian Nation (FOUN Kerry), led by Chairperson Natalia Eismont and coordinator Iryna Samborska, the cultural initiative celebrated Ukrainian heritage while fostering solidarity between Ireland and Ukraine.
At the centre of the display was a 166-metre embroidered towel, known traditionally as a rushnyk. Created by Ukrainian communities across dozens of countries, each section represents global resilience and connection. The project was originally founded by Andrii Yatsenko in Estonia, with his wife Svitlana joining individual pieces from around the world into one continuous artwork.
A key moment of the Killarney event saw the official addition of the embroidered piece crafted by the Ukrainian community in Ireland to the master banner.
The outdoor exhibition offered local residents and visitors a chance to learn about traditional Ukrainian customs and the symbolic meaning behind the rushnyk, which represents protection, heritage, and unity. FOUN Kerry expressed gratitude to local authorities, clergy, and the Kerry community for their ongoing support and warm welcome.
Monument honouring Kerry’s revolutionary women
A proposal that first originated in the Killarney Municipal District has culminated in the unveiling of Ireland’s first monument dedicated to the women of the 1912–1923 revolutionary period.
The project was brought forward by Killarney councillor Marie Moloney and backed by fellow Killarney representative Maura Healy-Rae.
The initiative gained momentum and full support in the main Kerry County Council chamber from all elected female councillors – adding Norma Moriarty, Aoife Thornton and Deirdre Ferris – leading to the commissioning of the historic memorial.
Titled Spiorad Bán Chiarraí or Spirit of the Kerry Women, the 2.5-metre bronze sculpture was officially unveiled in Tralee Town Park. Created by Dublin-based sculptor Elizabeth O’Kane, the artwork depicts a woman in period uniform marching forward while raising the Irish flag. To maintain historical accuracy, O’Kane referenced original uniforms from Cumann na mBan and Cumann na Saoirse.
“The sculpture was a year and a half in the making, from sculpting the larger-than-life-size clay figure in my studio, to the many months of highly skilled bronze casting carried out in a Dublin foundry,” said Ms O’Kane.
“From start to finish, it has been a labour of love – artists often claim to suffer for their work, but I have the X-ray to prove it! A fractured wrist in the middle of the project was extremely untimely, but I am immensely proud of the final result. It has been a privilege to commemorate the women of this period with a sculpture that celebrates their courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy.”
The project was funded through the Department of Housing and Local Government under the Percent for Arts Scheme. The memorial stands as a permanent tribute to the vital social, political, and military roles Kerry women played in shaping modern Ireland.
Ukrainian exhibition brings ‘Towel of Unity’ to Killarney
Ukrainian exhibition brings ‘Towel of Unity’ to Killarney The Ukrainian community in Kerry presented the international outdoor exhibition “The Towel...
Monument honouring Kerry’s revolutionary women
Monument honouring Kerry’s revolutionary women A proposal that first originated in the Killarney Municipal District has culminated in the unveiling...
Ukrainian exhibition brings ‘Towel of Unity’ to Killarney
The Ukrainian community in Kerry presented the international outdoor exhibition “The Towel of Unity – The Towel of Victory” at...
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