After a decade of research, Cork historian, Mr Padraigh O Loingsigh, has published his history of the parish of Caherdaniel in the Iveragh Peninsula. Caherdaniel is in the barony of Dunkerron near Derrynane and lies between Waterville and Sneem.
Last weekend, tourists and locals gathered in the community hall for the launch. The book runs to 345 pages and is illustrated with 65 photographs and maps. The painstaking research work was aided by a grant from the Heritage Council. The bilingual publication observes that unemployment, emigration and lack of economic development have led to a drastic decline in the population of the area, part of which has Gaeltacht status.
The author writes: "The parish which had five national schools up to the 1960s, now has but one school with 44 students. There are many holiday homes in the area and the population of non-nationals is in excess of the indigenous population. The book aims to promote pride in the rich heritage of the parish thereby enhancing the self-esteem of its people. It will also be a source of reference for educators, tourists and entrepreneurs who would like to discover the history, lore and legends of this area once described by Thackeray as "a country the magnificence of which no pen can describe".
The history of Caherdaniel is laid out by the author on a very broad canvass. It delves into the mists of time to acquaint readers with the earliest inhabitants of the region; includes pen pictures of Caherdaniel folk who have made an impact in more recent times and looks at the store of archaeological treasures which make this part of Co Kerry very special. There is even a chapter on Simethis Planifolia - the Kerry Lilly - which was discovered in Derrynane in the 1840s. The plant is now a protected species under the Flora Protection Order 1988.
At nearby Castlecove, there is a unique habitat for the Arrow Leaved Tear Thumb (Polygonum Saggitatum). This plant was first recorded in 1890. All of this is enriched by the inclusion of the Carew Map of Iveragh (1585), the Down Survey Map of the Barony of Dunkerron (1683) and Charles Smith's map of Kerry dating from 1756. It also includes an up-to-date walking and hiking map of the Kerry Way.
Padraigh O Loingsigh is more widely known for his association with the Book of Cloyne, the first edition of which he edited in 1977. He also edited the second edition in 1993.