Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society

Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society Cumann Seandálaíochta is Staire Chiarraí There are also many other events, activities and publications.

Today there are over 700 members of this growing society, mostly in Kerry but also elsewhere in Ireland as well as abroad. The aims and activities of the Society today are somewhat different to those first envisaged, but the study of the history and antiquities of County Kerry continues, as does the publication of an annual journal. The Society holds regular lectures, on a wide range of subjects r

elating to the archaeology and history of the county, as well as sometimes branching into other areas of our rich culture and heritage. These generally take place in one of the local libraries, and all are welcome. Outings are a feature generally of the summer programme, and these range from afternoon trips to sites in a particular part of the county, guided by local experts, to away trips, both within Ireland, and also to parts of Europe which might have particular connections with Kerry. On the social side, the Society hosts several book launches each year, and there is also an annual lunch either in late November or early December. It is at this event that the Society's Annual Heritage award is presented. As well as publishing the annual Journal, The Kerry Magazine is another annual publication of the Society, and occasionally other material is also published. The Society is a vibrant, growing organisation, always open to new thoughts and ideas, but always keeping in mind the main aims which could be condensed into 'the study of the history and antiquities of Kerry'. It has an academic side, seen in the lectures and publications, but also a social side, which is probably just as important. New members are always welcome, and information on memberships can be found on the How to Join section of the website.

Some more lovely photos from our outing today with Tralee Bay Experience Fenit.
13/06/2026

Some more lovely photos from our outing today with Tralee Bay Experience Fenit.

We had a brilliant time today visiting Little Samphire Lighthouse. Our guides, Alan Browne of Tralee Bay Experience and ...
13/06/2026

We had a brilliant time today visiting Little Samphire Lighthouse. Our guides, Alan Browne of Tralee Bay Experience and John McGibney of KCC were very knowledgeable. Many thanks to Claudia Kohler and Mary O'Brien Browne for organising the outing, and to both Alan and John for a fabulous day.

Members might be interested in some of the events at the forthcoming Listowel Celtic Art Weekend. See link for details:
03/06/2026

Members might be interested in some of the events at the forthcoming Listowel Celtic Art Weekend. See link for details:

T he IDCA, or International Day of Celtic Art Weekend is being held between the 11th-14th June, 2026 in the Kerry Writers' Museum and St. John's Theatre and Arts Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry. E vents will include Exhibition of works as well as the exhibition of the Book of Ballykinlar, Workshops and....

Some of you might be interested in attending some of the events during the Celtic Art Weekend, happening in June: https...
28/05/2026

Some of you might be interested in attending some of the events during the Celtic Art Weekend, happening in June: https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/idca-listowel-celtic-art-weekend-2026-107958378461?fbclid=IwdGRjcASFe_NjbGNrBIV76mV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHlo-L5u6PVady0rgxcUEgJZvGpAvsPRZA7A9Gb0dW2ktOyWAzj2pszKxvA9A_aem_LEV7m_z7UfMJVVZIBXMmyg&utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo0jfx08z4

T he IDCA, or International Day of Celtic Art Weekend is being held between the 11th-14th June, 2026 in the Kerry Writers' Museum and St. John's Theatre and Arts Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry. E vents will include Exhibition of works as well as the exhibition of the Book of Ballykinlar, Workshops and....

25/05/2026
What a wonderful outing today, in Annascaul Village! Huge thanks to our excellent guide, Laurence Jones, and to the hard...
17/05/2026

What a wonderful outing today, in Annascaul Village! Huge thanks to our excellent guide, Laurence Jones, and to the hardy members who came along. No thanks to the miserable weather, though!

Excellent talk this evening, by Dr Billy Mag Fhloinn, in SHU Di**le Ireland, about their Deep Mapping project. You can e...
14/05/2026

Excellent talk this evening, by Dr Billy Mag Fhloinn, in SHU Di**le Ireland, about their Deep Mapping project. You can explore the website at https://deepmapskerry.ie/.

Deep Mapping KerryCorca Dhuibhne / Deep Mapping / Di**le Peninsula ProjectFind out MoreDeep Mapping KerryCorca Dhuibhne / Deep Mapping / Di**le Peninsula ProjectFind out More Deep Mapping Kerry Léarscáiliú Chorca Dhuibhne This project is a multi-year and multi-disciplinary study that uses deep ma...

Many thanks to Dr Billy Mag Fhloinn for a most interesting lecture on the ongoing ‘Deep Mapping Kerry’ project being car...
14/05/2026

Many thanks to Dr Billy Mag Fhloinn for a most interesting lecture on the ongoing ‘Deep Mapping Kerry’ project being carried out by Sacred Heart University.

The multi disciplinary project so far maps data on archaeological, environmental, folklore and social history subjects - with significant scope for future expansion.

The full house in attendance at the wonderful new Sacred Heart University campus in Di**le were totally enthralled!

For more information see https://deepmapskerry.ie

History Ireland Archaeology Ireland West Kerry Live. Di**le Peninsula Tourism Heritage Ireland Sacred Heart College

From Capuchin Archives, Ireland.
14/05/2026

From Capuchin Archives, Ireland.

Fifth Century Monastery, Maharee Islands, County Kerry, 1919

A clipping of an article titled ‘On an Irish Island / A Fifth Century Monastery’, published in the ‘Irish Independent’ on 23 October 1919. The article describes the ruins on Illauntannig, one of the Maharee Islands located off the northern tip of the Magharee Peninsula in County Kerry. Illauntannig (sometimes spelled Iltanshanig) is also known in Irish as ‘Oileán tSeanaigh’ (the island of Seanach). The Maharee archipelago overlooks Tralee Bay.

The article features several photographs and descriptions of the early medieval monastic site including a stone beehive cell (‘clochán’) used by the monks and a tiny chapel where Mass was reportedly celebrated 1,400 years ago. The site also includes a cemetery with ‘rude and time-worn’ crosses and uninscribed headstones, some of which are rumoured to mark the graves of crew members from a wrecked Spanish Armada vessel. A separate image depicts the ruined St. Senan’s Church at Kilshannig on the nearby mainland. The article is credited to Canon Patrick McKenna, a Catholic priest from Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex, England.

While now uninhabited, some of the Maharee Islands were lived on as recently as the 1980s, primarily used for summer cattle grazing and seasonal fishing. Today, the Maharee archipelago, known locally as the ‘Seven Hogs’, are a National Monument and a protected sanctuary for breeding seabirds. Access is generally restricted to preserve both the fragile archaeology and the local wildlife.

The clipping forms part of a bound newspaper and ephemera collection compiled by the editors of ‘The Capuchin Annual’ (Identifier: https://catholicarchives.ie/index.php/fifth-century-monastery-maharees-islands-county-kerry)

There are two paths in Kerry among these Pilgrim Path s.
11/05/2026

There are two paths in Kerry among these Pilgrim Path s.

THE NEXT BIG EVENT ON THE IRISH PILGRIM PATHS

The Irish Pilgrim Journey, JUNE 13 TO 20, 2026
This is a fully guided walk along Ireland’s passported pilgrim paths, with all logistics taken care of. It enables you to meet like-minded people as part of a memorable midsummer experience and obtain the required stamps for the Irish Pilgrim Passport in 6 days of guided walking. You may book for some or all of the walks. Each walk is booked individually with the local organisers, as below.
The dates are as follows:
June 13 &14:
St Finbarr’s Pilgrim Path, Drimoleague, Bantry, Co Cork. Tel: 028 31547, Email: [email protected]. Facebook: St Finbarr’s Pilgrim Path.
June 15:
Cnoc an dTobar Pilgrim Mountain, Cahersiveen Co Kerry
Tel: 087 7942134, Email: [email protected], Facebook: Cnoc na dTobar.
June 16:
Cosán na Naomh, Ventry, Di**le, Co Kerry
Tel, 087 2518174, Email: [email protected]. Facebook; Cosán na Naomh/the Saints’ Path.
June 18:
St Kevin’s Way, Hollywood, Co Wicklow
Contact details – email: [email protected] Facebook: St.Kevins Way
June 20:
Tóchar Phádráig, Ballintubber Abbey, Co Mayo. Tel: 094 9030934. Email: [email protected]. Facebook: Ballintubber Abbey.

Address

C/o Kerry County Library, Moyderwell
Trá Lí

Telephone

+353667121200

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