Defined by the Atlantic Ocean - it’s people and cultural heritage that has shaped the landscape for millennia.
It charts through images and words the richness of ‘The Kingdom of Kerry’. From ancient ‘rock art’ to winter and summer alignments, the golden age of monasticism, of saints, scholars, pilgrims who dared venture to all corners of the earth, in the early centuries, and those from far off countries who visited the edge of Europe and brought their own blend of culture.
It explores the more quirky nature of Kerry - from the highest farm in Ireland, the highest Grotto, the farthest Island in Europe, to the ancient customs of the ‘Kilbognet Biddies’ and ‘ Lá an Dreoilín’ - The Dingle Wren. The Goddess Anú, revered and celebrated on her own mountain ‘the Paps of Anú, At the northern slopes of the mountain lies ‘the city of Shrone’ - Cathair Crobh Dearg - a ring fort, which is considered the oldest place of pilgrimage in continuance from pagan to Christianity in Europe. For more than two millennia, it has been an important place of pilgrimage especially on May Day.
Anna Downing’s iconic house in the Black Valley, was the last house to be connected to the national electricity grid in 1977. Almost 50 years later, Anna was the first resident in the Black Valley to receive the state of the art optic fibre broadband. Perfect for connecting to all her children and grandchildren all over the world.
Then, there’s ‘Cait Na Pluaise’ - a brave woman who lived in a cave situated between Castlecove and Caherdaniel. Cait of the Cave raised her seven children following her eviction after the famine in the 1850’s. To this day limpet and periwinkle shells still lie on the floor of the cave. Etchings of maths are carved on the roof by her children. One of her Sons won a scholarship to university and went on to become a teacher. When asked what kind of a house he came from, he would say "I come from a house with a roof of one slate".
There’s a graveyard in the Church of St. Mac a Deaghaidh, in the downland of Glenderry, Kerry Head. The small enclosed burial ground is reserved exclusively for the local Corridan Family. Tradition has it when a member of The Corridan Family dies, a light shines across the Bay from Mount Brandon.
Killegy Churchyard stands on a hill overlooking Muckross Estate, dating from the 12th century, has some interesting burials - “Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland pastor Form Killarney across the Pyrenees he came” The boxing parson’, from Killarney, remembered in ‘Viva la quinte brigada’, Christy Moore's popular ballad about the Irishmen who fought in Spain against the fascist Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Rev Hilliard, was an Irish Olympic boxer, a founder of the Trinity College hurling club and he died fighting with the 5th International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War.
‘Here lies the bones of James MaGrath - Friends he had none - deserted by his family’. They spoke their minds in stone back in the day.
There are ultra runners running the ridges of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, sunrise yoga on Ballinskelligs beach, Puffins on Sceilg Mhichíl, Gannets on Sceilg Beag, Minke Whales breaching, Lighthouses, flora, fauna, rutting deer, kite surfing, Farriers, Musicians, rare cattle breeds, an ice swimmer, ice-cream makers, Women Jarvey Operators, Farmers…
