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Muckross Abbey and the strange story of John Drake

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By Sean Moriarty

The Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Michael Gleeson, is asking for the public’s help as he tries to piece together the mystery of man who came to live in the Muckross area in the 18th century.

When Muckross Abbey was unoccupied during the mid-18th century, a man known as John Drake made the abandoned building his home. He slept in a bed made from old coffin boards, in the recess of the Abbey’s fireplace, and wind-proofed the nearby window with earth and rubbish.

He never revealed his business, where he came from, or why he chose to live as his did and was met with equal amounts of curiosity and respect by locals.

“He was said to be under 40 years of age, refined in nature and 'scholarly' in appearance. He never discussed his past, his plans or his reasons for adopting this unusual abode,” Mayor Gleeson told the Killarney Advertiser. “He never asked for alms and was never known to eat in any dwelling other than his own. He had enough money to buy some food and indeed was known to give a halfpenny and his prayers to any person who seemed more destitute than himself.”

He lived in the Abbey for 11 years until one day he disappeared without trace.

“One day in late springtime, John was nowhere to be seen. Just as suddenly as he had arrived to the Abbey he had now disappeared. His 'bed' lay unruffled, but nothing else remained. John had gone quietly into the dark night and was never again seen in Muckross or heard of elsewhere,” added Cllr Gleeson. “The mystery of the unusual life of John Drake in Muckross remains just that - a mystery of a quiet and gentle man who arrived unannounced and departed without trace.”

Some years later a young woman arrived to Killarney looking for the man. Very little is known of the woman, she was reputed to be a foreigner and visited the Abbey and seen to be weeping at Darke’s fireside bed.

If any of our readers have information about John Drake or other curious stories send to them to sean@thekillarneyadvertiser.ie and we will publish some of the more quirky stories as well as pass any clues onto Mayor Gleeson.

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Book on handball legend to be launched at The Sem

A new book by a Killarney priest will be officially launched at St Brendan’s College on Monday, December 9. Unbeatable – Fr Tom Jones, Handball Supremo will be launched at […]

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A new book by a Killarney priest will be officially launched at St Brendan’s College on Monday, December 9.

Unbeatable – Fr Tom Jones, Handball Supremo will be launched at 6pm in the college chapel.
The book, written by Fr Tom Looney charts the life of Fr Tom Jones, a past pupil of St Brendan’s who entered the school as both a World and National Handball Champion.
Jones later served as a priest in Ulster, Yorkshire, Australia and Kerry over a 54-year ministry. The biography describes his sporting achievements and his contribution to parish life at home and abroad.
Fr Kieran O’Brien, President of the Kerry Handball Association, will host the launch
Copies of the book, priced at €15, are available in the Cathedral Office, O’Connor’s on Beech Road and the Friary Bookshop.

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HR Buddy named Top Global Employer of Record provider

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Killarney-headquartered HR & Payroll firm HR Buddy has been recognised as one of the leading providers of Employer of Record (EOR) services in the latest market research published by anywherer.com.

The company, which also operates offices in Cork, Limerick, and Dublin, was highlighted for its dependable service in supporting global firms hiring in Ireland.


HR Buddy functions as an Employer of Record service provider for the Republic of Ireland, assisting foreign companies to legally hire Irish workers without the lengthy process of forming a local entity.

This service includes full HR support, payroll handling, and guidance on local compliance, effectively allowing the foreign firm to manage daily tasks while HR Buddy acts as the legal employer.

This model significantly reduces administrative delays and compliance risks for global businesses looking to expand into the Irish market.


The anywhere.com guide, which helps global businesses compare EOR options, noted that HR Buddy stood out for its local expertise, dependable service, and commitment to simplifying workforce management for global teams.


Damien McCarthy, Managing Director of HR Buddy, said” W”e are working with organisations in Japan, China, Singapore, Canada, US, Scandinavia, Europe & the UK. It is testament to our team that independent market research places us as a leading provider in this area,”


In addition to its EOR service, HR Buddy also provides HR and employment law support, payroll outsourcing, HR Buddy Manager software solutions, and workplace training to businesses across Ireland.

The company celebrates its 9th year in business this month.

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