300 years of Kenmare House highlighted at National Park talk

The history and legacy of Kenmare House were explored on Thursday evening as part of the ongoing Killarney National Park Autumn Talks Series.

Rachel Kavanagh of Killarney House delivered the presentation, titled ‘Shadows of Splendour: 300 years of Kenmare House’, which was live-streamed to the public on the Killarney National Park Facebook page.
The talk detailed the arrival of the Browne family, Earls of Kenmare, and their lasting influence on the local landscape. Kavanagh traced their historical timeline from their initial residence at Ross Castle to the grand mansion at Kenmare House, and later to Knockreer House and Killarney House.
The presentation followed another successful event in the autumn series last week, when UCC Professor of Modern Irish Pádraig Ó Macháin drew record numbers for his lecture on the Annals of Inisfallen. Ó Macháin discussed the medieval manuscript, compiled by the monks of Inisfallen Island, which remains one of Ireland’s most important surviving historical records.
The Killarney National Park Autumn Talks Series continues weekly, featuring lectures on local history, heritage, and natural conservation.

Lecture to honour martyr Fr Francis O’Sullivan at Friary

The Kerry branch of Cumann na Sagart is inviting the local community to a special bilingual lecture on Monday, November 9 to mark the life and legacy of South Kerry martyr Fr Francis O’Sullivan O.F.M. (1591–1653).

The event will take place at 8pm at his shrine inside the Franciscan Friary on Martyrs’ Hill (Cnoc na Mairtíreach) in Killarney. Fr Billy Hoyne O.F.M. will lead the evening, which will feature local lore, music, and history.
Born in Waterville (An Coireán), Fr O’Sullivan was executed during the Penal Laws for continuing his priestly ministry in defiance of Cromwellian banishment orders. While taking refuge on Scarriff Island (An Scairbh) off the Iveragh (Uíbh Ráthach) coast, he was tracked down by soldiers and killed while celebrating Mass.
His skull was preserved for generations by the O’Connell family of Derrynane (Doire Fhíonáin) and is currently on display inside the Friary church in Killarney. Local fishermen along the South Kerry coast have long invoked his memory with the traditional prayer, “Let us pray to almighty God and to the red-haired friar of Scarriff.”
The gathering is open to all members of the public. Further details are available from Fr Tomás on 087 2213799.