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Commemoration of deaths of three civilians in Milltown during the Civil War

A commemoration is to be held in Milltown next month to remember three local civilians who died during the Civil War.
The deaths of Jeremiah Hanifin, Jeremiah McKenna and Mary McKenna in separate incidents during 1922 represented almost one quarter of all the civilian casualties in County Kerry during the Civil War.
Organised by local historian and author, Owen O’Shea, and with the support of the Milltown Community and Chamber Alliance, a memorial plaque will be unveiled at the Square in Milltown on Sunday, May 7 at 12 noon.
"In all wars, the toll on civilians is often forgotten and overlooked. During the Civil War, a total of 14 civilians lost their lives in Kerry. It is important that they are remembered and not forgotten as we approach the centenary of the end of the Civil War," said Owen.
Father of 10, Jeremiah Hanifin was talking to a neighbour outside his home near Farran Cross, Milltown in September 1922 when a Free State army patrol passed by. Shots were fired indiscriminately and Hanifin was mortally wounded. Two months later at Kilderry near the village, mother and son Mary and Jeremiah McKenna died when they were fired upon following an ambush of a Free State army cycling patrol. All three were innocent bystanders with no apparent connections to the conflict.
"Thankfully, my home town of Milltown was spared much of the viciousness and brutality of the Civil War which impacted communities in many other parts of Kerry. There were, for example, no known fatalities among natives of Milltown in the ranks of the Free State army or the anti-Treaty IRA.
"Sadly however, three innocent civilians became victims of the dreadful war, which claimed the lives of a total of 14 civilians and over 150 combatants in Kerry. It is important that we remember and commemorate those who died during this dark period in our history, be they combatant or civilian."
The commemoration ceremony will feature a short address by Owen on the Civil War in Milltown and the unveiling of a stone plaque to the memory of the three people who died, by local councillor and Cathaoirleach of the Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District, Cllr Michael O’Shea.
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Fassbender ready for second Le Mans appearance
Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The iconic endurance race is celebrating its […]

Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The iconic endurance race is celebrating its 100th edition next weekend.
The Fossa star has already arrived in the famous French twon where he is involved in a week-long series of engagements including drivers’ parades, autograph sessions and more serious appointments like car safety checks, practice and qualifying.
Like last year, when he finished 16th in the LMGTE Am class, Fassbender has been entered in to the event by the German Proton Competition team with Estonian Martin Rump and the Austrian Richard Lietz.
Fassbender dreams of following the trajectory of fellow Hollywood actors Patrick Dempsey who was second in LMGTE Am class in 2016 and Paul Newman who finished second overall in 1979.
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Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.