Nollaig O Gadhra is a well known historian, author and broadcaster and on hearing that I was working on recording "Recollections of 1916 and its Aftermath" he asked to be introduced to Dan Keating of Ballygamboon, of whom he had heard on many occasions. On Good Friday 2005 we sat down in Dan Keating's kitchen and began our work. Nollaig outlined for Dan his own Kerry connections. His mother Hannah Flynn came from "over the fields' in Firies and his uncle Jim Flynn was in "the movement' with Tom McEllistrum. It was decided that Nollaig O Gadhra would put the questions on this occasion so I sat back with my recorder to listen to a fascinating account of a fascinating life. Nollaig began by enquiring about Dan's earliest recollections of British recruitment in Tralee during the Great War, the Fenian movement in Tralee, the prevailing mood in Kerry during Easter 1916, the round up of Volunteers after The Rising and the complete reversal of attitudes locally following the execution of the leaders in Dublin. There was talk of proposed enforced conscription by the British resulting in many young men joining the Volunteers. The death of Thomas Ashe from Kinard, Lispole also proved a major catalyst for many people who joined the movement. There was discussion of the ambushes of the Auxiliaries and Black and Tans in Kerry, the Sinn Feνn courts, which Dan maintained were very successful, and he recalled a humorous incident in Mountjoy prison where he was incarcerated one Ash Wednesday morning. As we prepared to leave Ballygamboon that Good Friday, I was filled with admiration for this extraordinary man whom God has spared to enjoy a long and fruitful life and who is now in his 103rd year.
Nollaig O Gadhra is a well known historian, author and broadcaster and on hearing that I was working on recording "Recollections of 1916 and its Aftermath" he asked to be introduced to Dan Keating of Ballygamboon, of whom he had heard on many occasions. On Good Friday 2005 we sat down in Dan Keating's kitchen and began our work. Nollaig outlined for Dan his own Kerry connections. His mother Hannah Flynn came from "over the fields' in Firies and his uncle Jim Flynn was in "the movement' with Tom McEllistrum. It was decided that Nollaig O Gadhra would put the questions on this occasion so I sat back with my recorder to listen to a fascinating account of a fascinating life. Nollaig began by enquiring about Dan's earliest recollections of British recruitment in Tralee during the Great War, the Fenian movement in Tralee, the prevailing mood in Kerry during Easter 1916, the round up of Volunteers after The Rising and the complete reversal of attitudes locally following the execution of the leaders in Dublin. There was talk of proposed enforced conscription by the British resulting in many young men joining the Volunteers. The death of Thomas Ashe from Kinard, Lispole also proved a major catalyst for many people who joined the movement. There was discussion of the ambushes of the Auxiliaries and Black and Tans in Kerry, the Sinn Feνn courts, which Dan maintained were very successful, and he recalled a humorous incident in Mountjoy prison where he was incarcerated one Ash Wednesday morning. As we prepared to leave Ballygamboon that Good Friday, I was filled with admiration for this extraordinary man whom God has spared to enjoy a long and fruitful life and who is now in his 103rd year.
