South Kerry in O'Connell's Time

Derrynane House

Daniel O'Connell inherited this property from his uncle, Maurice "Hunting Cap" O'Connell. The property is located about 3km from Caherdaniel in Co.Kerry. Due to its isolated position, travel to and from the property would have been difficult in O'Connell's time.

© Lawrence Collection

Derrynane House
© Lawrence Collection

Derrynane House

Daniel O'Connell inherited this property from his uncle, Maurice "Hunting Cap" O'Connell. The property is located about 3km from Caherdaniel in Co.Kerry. Due to its isolated position, travel to and from the property would have been difficult in O'Connell's time.

© Lawrence Collection

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Kerry is home to some of the most isolated towns and villages in Ireland. The coastline, with its many headlands jutting out into the ocean, can make journeys long. When Daniel O'Connell lived in Derrynane, near Caherdaniel, travelling to Dublin or London on business was not as easy as it is today.

Roads in South Kerry

Transport was a slow process in the 19th century but note the grandeur and beauty of the journey.

© Lawrence Collection

Roads in South Kerry
© Lawrence Collection

Roads in South Kerry

Transport was a slow process in the 19th century but note the grandeur and beauty of the journey.

© Lawrence Collection

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The peninsula O'Connell lived on was called Iveragh. Many of the people were poor. It was a hard place to leave because of the mountains and the poor roads. It was also a hard place to get to, so the English mostly stayed away and the native Irish were left more to themselves.

Mountain Road, Cahirciveen

This horse drawn carriage in the late 19th century makes slow progress.

© Lawrence Collection

Mountain Road, Cahirciveen
© Lawrence Collection

Mountain Road, Cahirciveen

This horse drawn carriage in the late 19th century makes slow progress.

© Lawrence Collection

Enlarge image

Daniel O'Connell lived before photography was invented so we have few pictures of the time he lived in. Little changed during the 19th century though, so when photography came along later it showed a countryside much as Daniel would have known it. He would have travelled by horse and coach over very bad roads winding through high mountains.