Knocknagoshel
Encyclopedia
Knocknagoshel, officially Knocknagashel , is a village in County Kerry
, Ireland
. According to the 2006 census, the population of the village was 760.
, in Newcastle West in 1891.
"Arise Knocknagoshel, and take your place among the nations of the earth!"
The banner bearing of 1891 is today commemorated with a plaque on the gable end of a house in the centre of Knocknagoshel village.
Just outside the village is a steeply inclined field, which in 1923 was part of Baranarigh Wood, where five soldiers of the Irish Free State
National Army
were killed by a booby trap mine on 6 March of that year during the Irish Civil War
. The men killed at Knocknagoshel included three officers and two privates, one of whom was a local man. Lieutenant Pat O’Connor was targeted by the Anti-Treaty IRA because of his knowledge of the local I.R.A. organisation and the men involved in it and because of the energetic manner in which he pursued the Anti-Treaty guerrillas. The soldiers were lured into the trap by false information about a Republican dug out in the area. The atrocity was to lead to a series of reprisals against the anti-treaty side and the Free State troops killed 19 Republican prisoners in county Limerick over the following two weeks (see Executions during the Irish Civil War
).
The Gaelic football
er Eddie Waslh
, who played at half-back with the Kerry senior football team
, was from Knocknagoshel.
The annual Pattern Festival, known locally as "The Pattern" is held on the 15th of August. The word pattern comes from the Irish "Patrun" or English "Patron" and in the old days, most Irish parishes had a patron saint. On the saint's feast day, the parishioners celebrated what was known as a Pattern Day with Mass and a visit to the Holy Well. In the evening the families of Knocknagoshel compete in a ribbon twirling competition. One member of each of the competing families twirl their family ribbons in tune to traditional music. The winners get to tie their family ribbon to the King of the Sheep and take it home and eat it.http://www.abbeyfealeonline.com/2006/08/15/knocknagoshel-pattern-day/. The custom has been carried out since the early days of the festival and can become very competitive. The Nelius O'Connor Traditional Music Festival takes place in July each year. Musicians, singers and storytellers come from all over to take part.
Knocknagoshel footballers who have played with Kerry Minors are Mossie Walsh. Bertie Murphy (two years), Sean O Connor, Eamonn Walsh, Padraig Reidy and James Walsh.
Knocknagoshel footballers who have played with Kerry Seniors are Jack McElligott(1), Eddie Walsh(4), Eddie Roche(2). Sean O Connor. Sean McElligott, Jack O Connell, Eamonn Walsh and Mike Brosnan.
Bertie and Jack Murphy have played for Dublin and for Leinster, John Fitzgerald has played for Kildare, Tim O Connor has played for Wexford and Denis Roche has played for Tipperary.
In 1950 the Castleisland District team, containing Knocknagoshel players won the County Championship and in 1988 St. Kieran's team with Knocknagoshel players again won the Championship.
Recent Knocknagoshel to play with St. Kierans include Sean "fatty" Lenihan, Dan Roche, Denis Walsh, Aeneas McAuliffe, Mike Walsh and Shane O'Connell
Knocknagoshel have won the County Novice Championship twice-in 1969 with some Brosna players, in 1987 and 1997 on their own. They have also won the Novice Shield Championship in 2004.
Knocknagoshel have won the North Kerry League in 1978 and 1983 and 1997.
Two Knocknagoshel ladies have won All Ireland medals playing with Kerry. They are Noreen Long (née Thompson) and Mary Scanlon (née Lane).
In 1960 Fr. Walsh bought The Inch from Michael Cahill and presented it to the club.
In 1999 Richie Walsh presented the club with the site for a new playing pitch and club house. These have been developed and a gymnasium added and was officially opened in May 2004.
The club’s most recent success came at minor level when Knock joined with Brosna won the 2009 Division 4 Minor County league. After a solid performance in the league games Knock/Brosna had a fantastic win over a strong Ballydonoghue team in the semi-final and then completed the job in Killorglin against Skellig Rangers/Valentia winning 3-07 to 1-11.Team captained by Ciaran Downey.
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. According to the 2006 census, the population of the village was 760.
History
Knocknagoshel is a place remembered in Irish history for the extraordinary banner carried aloft by local men at a rally addressed by Irish politician, Charles Stewart ParnellCharles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
, in Newcastle West in 1891.
"Arise Knocknagoshel, and take your place among the nations of the earth!"
The banner bearing of 1891 is today commemorated with a plaque on the gable end of a house in the centre of Knocknagoshel village.
Just outside the village is a steeply inclined field, which in 1923 was part of Baranarigh Wood, where five soldiers of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
National Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
were killed by a booby trap mine on 6 March of that year during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
. The men killed at Knocknagoshel included three officers and two privates, one of whom was a local man. Lieutenant Pat O’Connor was targeted by the Anti-Treaty IRA because of his knowledge of the local I.R.A. organisation and the men involved in it and because of the energetic manner in which he pursued the Anti-Treaty guerrillas. The soldiers were lured into the trap by false information about a Republican dug out in the area. The atrocity was to lead to a series of reprisals against the anti-treaty side and the Free State troops killed 19 Republican prisoners in county Limerick over the following two weeks (see Executions during the Irish Civil War
Executions during the Irish Civil War
The executions during the Irish Civil War took place during the guerrilla phase of the Irish Civil War . This phase of the war was bitter, and both sides, the government forces of the Irish Free State and the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army insurgents, used executions and terror in what...
).
The Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er Eddie Waslh
Eddie Walsh (footballer)
Eddie Walsh was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Knocknagoshel and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team in the 1930s and 1940s....
, who played at half-back with the Kerry senior football team
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
, was from Knocknagoshel.
Festivals, Arts and Culture
Knocknagoshel Halloween Group hosts a yearly ghost trail which commences adjacent to the village church and continues along the Well Road with the end of the trail located opposite the funeral home. The ghost trail began in 1994 and was originally designed to cater for the local children but as the years progressed, its popularity grew and by 2009 there were thousands of people from every corner of Ireland attending the festival. The festival takes place on the Sunday of the October Bank Holiday weekend every year and all of the funds raised are distributed amongst the local community groups and nominated charities.The annual Pattern Festival, known locally as "The Pattern" is held on the 15th of August. The word pattern comes from the Irish "Patrun" or English "Patron" and in the old days, most Irish parishes had a patron saint. On the saint's feast day, the parishioners celebrated what was known as a Pattern Day with Mass and a visit to the Holy Well. In the evening the families of Knocknagoshel compete in a ribbon twirling competition. One member of each of the competing families twirl their family ribbons in tune to traditional music. The winners get to tie their family ribbon to the King of the Sheep and take it home and eat it.http://www.abbeyfealeonline.com/2006/08/15/knocknagoshel-pattern-day/. The custom has been carried out since the early days of the festival and can become very competitive. The Nelius O'Connor Traditional Music Festival takes place in July each year. Musicians, singers and storytellers come from all over to take part.
GAA
The club was formally founded in 1932 when Fr. Bob Walsh came here as curate. They won the Castleisland District League in 1941, 1944 and again in 1946.Knocknagoshel footballers who have played with Kerry Minors are Mossie Walsh. Bertie Murphy (two years), Sean O Connor, Eamonn Walsh, Padraig Reidy and James Walsh.
Knocknagoshel footballers who have played with Kerry Seniors are Jack McElligott(1), Eddie Walsh(4), Eddie Roche(2). Sean O Connor. Sean McElligott, Jack O Connell, Eamonn Walsh and Mike Brosnan.
Bertie and Jack Murphy have played for Dublin and for Leinster, John Fitzgerald has played for Kildare, Tim O Connor has played for Wexford and Denis Roche has played for Tipperary.
In 1950 the Castleisland District team, containing Knocknagoshel players won the County Championship and in 1988 St. Kieran's team with Knocknagoshel players again won the Championship.
Recent Knocknagoshel to play with St. Kierans include Sean "fatty" Lenihan, Dan Roche, Denis Walsh, Aeneas McAuliffe, Mike Walsh and Shane O'Connell
Knocknagoshel have won the County Novice Championship twice-in 1969 with some Brosna players, in 1987 and 1997 on their own. They have also won the Novice Shield Championship in 2004.
Knocknagoshel have won the North Kerry League in 1978 and 1983 and 1997.
Two Knocknagoshel ladies have won All Ireland medals playing with Kerry. They are Noreen Long (née Thompson) and Mary Scanlon (née Lane).
In 1960 Fr. Walsh bought The Inch from Michael Cahill and presented it to the club.
In 1999 Richie Walsh presented the club with the site for a new playing pitch and club house. These have been developed and a gymnasium added and was officially opened in May 2004.
The club’s most recent success came at minor level when Knock joined with Brosna won the 2009 Division 4 Minor County league. After a solid performance in the league games Knock/Brosna had a fantastic win over a strong Ballydonoghue team in the semi-final and then completed the job in Killorglin against Skellig Rangers/Valentia winning 3-07 to 1-11.Team captained by Ciaran Downey.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland