The ‘Irish factor’ in the outbreak of war in 1914

After the signing of the Entente Cordiale in 1904 between the French and the British, Irish separatists quickly turned towards the Germans as potential allies. Kaiser Wilhelm II was in fact closely […]

‘Strategic ambiguity’

The years between 1890 and 1907 saw major realignment in the system of European alliances. Briefly put, it resulted in the strategic encirclement of Germany and Austria-Hungary by the Triple […]

‘Degenerating from sterling Irishmen into contemptible West Britons’: the GAA and rugby in Kerry, 1885–1905

For the first two decades of the GAA’s existence, rugby rather than Gaelic football was seen by many as Kerry’s pre-eminent sport. That rugby should have attained popularity in the […]

Thomas F. O’Sullivan

O’Sullivan was born in Listowel in 1874. He developed an early interest in the GAA and in 1893 at the age of nineteen became secretary of the newly formed Listowel […]

Caid

The traditional game of caid was popular with the Kerry peasantry throughout the nineteenth century. The game used a ball made of farm animal skins with an inflated bladder within, […]