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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

My forthcoming biography of Austin Stack can now be pre-ordered ahead of publication in November by Merrion Press. I am honoured to be bringing his remarkable story and his key role in the campaign for Irish independence to a wide audience. www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/unch...

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Looking forward to speaking about the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry at the annual conference of the Political Studies Association of Ireland in October. Thanks the organisers for selecting my paper on why the party was so successful in the Kerry constituency owenoshea.ie/books/from-b...

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Great documentary on RTÉ1 now about film censorship and all of the films which were cut and deleted by the Film Censor since 1923 🎬

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 22/07/2026

Reposted by Dr. Owen O'Shea

Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal.

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

My new biography of Austin Stack will be published later this year by Merrion Press. Stack was a major figure during the Irish revolutionary period but has remained in the shadows of the historiography for too long. Stay tuned! 📚 #IrishHistory #AustinStack #Books #IrishRevolution #EasterRising

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Working on a piece on the fate of the Labour Party in Kerry in the 1920s for a forthcoming edited collection on the aftermath of the Irish Civil War. The story of the political fortunes of Labour and smaller parties has been largely marginalised in the histories of politics after the Civil War.

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

"Body snatchers" The Kerry priest who was buried four times The extraordinary story of Fr John Quill and the battle for his remains ⚰️ owenoshea.ie/body-snatche...

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

It's not uncommon for politicians nowadays to take issue with reportage in the media, sometimes leading all the way to the courts. But have you ever heard the story of the Kerry politician who received an apology from the BBC?! #IrishPolitics #IrishHistory owenoshea.ie/an-apology-f...

owenoshea.ie

An apology from the BBC - Ross Kinloch, Senator The McGillycuddy of the Reeks

Seanad Éireann – the Irish parliament’s second chamber – has often been home to a diversity of colourful and interesting personalities who, it could be argued, might never have been elected to the Dái...

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A most enjoyable morning in conversation with the wonderful Catriona Crowe at Listowel Writers' Week about my book on politics in Kerry after the Civil War. Lovely to be part of such a special festival in lovely Listowel with such a fabulous buzz in town 📚 📖 @ucdpress.bsky.social

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Today, two Scott Medals for bravery will be be awarded posthumously to Sergeant James Woods and Garda Patrick Spillane who were attacked on 3 December 1923 at the garda station in Scartaglin in Co Kerry. Sgt Woods was mortally wounded. Here is the remarkable story: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyBx...

youtube.com

Dark days in Kerry: the murder of Sergeant James Woods in Kerry in 1923 and its shocking aftermath

YouTube video by Owen O'Shea

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Reposted by Dr. Owen O'Shea

UCD Press @ucdpress.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Next Thursday – UCD Press author @owenoshea.bsky.social will be speaking with historian and archivist Catriona Crowe about his recently published book From Bullets to Ballots at Listowel Writers' Week! 🎟️ writersweek.ie/project/expl... 🗓️ 11 AM, Thursday, 28 May 📍 Seanchaí- Kerry Writers’ Museum

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

I'll be at Listowel Writers' Week on Thursday, 28 May talking about how Irish politics evolved after the Civil War and my book on the evolution of Kerry politics in the 1920s and 1930s. Honoured to be interviewed by historian and archivist, Catriona Crowe. writersweek.ie/project/expl...

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Really enjoyed speaking to historian James Nagle for his wonderful channel, The Irish Nation Lives, about my research on post-Civil War politics in Kerry and my book, From Bullets to Ballots, which is published by @ucdpress.bsky.social youtu.be/YxZBXiDU6Ks?...

youtu.be

Politics in Post-Civil War Kerry - Interview with Dr. Owen O'Shea

YouTube video by The Irish Nation Lives

UCD Press @ucdpress.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Reposted by Dr. Owen O'Shea

UCD Press author @owenoshea.bsky.social has an insightful new piece in the May edition of @historyireland.bsky.social about the impact of local newspapers on support for Fianna Fáil in Kerry in the years after the party was founded. 📰 Read the full piece: historyireland.com/fianna-fail-...

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Dingle is rocking to the sounds of Féile na Bealtaine 🥁 🔥 #Dingle #FéilenaBealtaine

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Loved every single page of this page turner @rorycarroll72.bsky.social Evoking a story with the pace of thriller while paying due deference to the complex historical narrative I can't recommend it enough 👏

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Thanks to History Ireland for publishing my piece on the impact of local newspapers on support for Fianna Fáil in Kerry in the years after the party was founded. History Ireland (May-June) is out now. #history #centenaries historyireland.com/fianna-fail-...

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Looking forward to Listowel Writers Week and joining the wonderful Catriona Crowe to discuss my research on politics in Kerry and Ireland in the years after the Civil War. Bookings: shorturl.at/HG7Ra

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Census 1926: The newly published Census of 1926 includes the extract for Kerry TD Austin Stack, who used his Irish name, Aibhistín de Staic and who was resident at Strand Road, Mount Merrion in Dublin with his wife Winifren (Úna) and a domestic servant at the time of the Census. #Census1926

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Census 1926: Return for Éamon de Valera and family who were resident at Serpentine Avenue, Dublin. De Valera's occupation is listed as Teachta Dála even though he remained an abstentionist TD. A month after the Census was taken, de Valera founded a new political party, Fianna Fáil #Census1926

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

The Census of 1926: my father-in-law Denis Patrick (Patie) O'Neill of Brookhill, Killorglin appears on the census return as a two-year-old. It's a fascinating resource and is very easy to search. #Census1926 Check it out here: nationalarchives.ie/collections/...

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

My north Kerry ancestors: the 1926 Census records are a remarkable resource in helping us learn about the past and trace our family histories. This extract is from Ardfert where my grandfather, James Crowley - later of the Spa, Tralee - was born. nationalarchives.ie/collections/... #Census1926

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Census return for the Flynn family of Castlemaine, County Kerry including John 'Jack' Flynn who was an IRA leader during the War of Independence and the Civil War and later Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry. Newly released today as part of #Census1926 nationalarchives.ie/collections/...

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Looking forward to Listowel Writers Week and joining the wonderful Catriona Crowe to discuss my research on politics in Kerry and Ireland in the years after the Civil War. Bookings: shorturl.at/HG7Ra

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Spotted today in a Kerry bookshop! I kept the €1.50 in my pocket! #Boris

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Coming soon to a bookshelf near you: my biography of revolutionary leader Austin Stack which will be published later this year by Merrion Press Thrilled to publish the remarkable story of this important figure and to share new archive material about his life and times #irishhistory #books 📚

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

They were just so ... chocolatey! Happy Easter! 🐣 🍫

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Thanks to Ireland's Own for including a piece I wrote on the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry in their special edition to mark the centenary of the foundation of the party in 1926. Based on my recent book from @ucdpress.bsky.social on post-Civil War politics in Kerry #irishhistory #speirgorm

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

De Valera and my exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry are now back in my attic after six weeks on the road at Tralee and Killarney libraries. It was almost as long and gruelling a campaign as the 1933 general election! Thanks to Kerry Library for hosting #irishhistory

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

🏰 The Leeson-Marshalls of Callinafercy 📖 Lecture by Dr John Knightly 📅 Thursday 2nd April at 8pm 🪑 Milltown Community Hall 🎟 Admission €10 www.milltownhistoryheritage.ie

Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Thanks to the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society for hosting my talk last night at Killarney Library on the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry. Recording will be available in due course. #irishhistory #centenaries @ucdpress.bsky.social

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

On Thursday, 26th March at 7.00pm at Killarney Library, I will deliver a lecture on the foundation and early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry, 1926-1933, hosted by the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society. Admission is free and all are welcome. www.kerryhistory.ie

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Fingers crossed for the second Triple Crown of the weekend #COYBIG #SixNations2026 #U20SixNations 💚💚💚🍀🍀🍀

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Over 12,000 Irish women joined the Blueshirts in 1930s Ireland. Mná na Léinte Gorma uncovers their hidden story-of power, protest, and politics-in a time of turmoil. I was pleased to contribute to this important documentary which you can now watch back on the TG4 Player: shorturl.at/DSNPU

shorturl.at

Mná na Léinte Gorma | Player | Irish Television Channel, Súil Eile

Over 12,000 Irish women joined the Blueshirts in 1930s Ireland. Mná na Léinte Gorma uncovers their hidden story-of power, protest, and politics-in a time of turmoil. Their choices shaped a nation-and ...

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

On beautiful days like today, it's an even greater privilege to live and work in The Kingdom #Kerry #TheKingdom #Iveragh ☀️

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

"The exhibition is based on the renowned research of historian Owen O’Shea and profiles the seven men who served as Fianna Fáil TD in the party’s first years. How many of them would pass the Coalition’s purity test?" From today's Sunday Independent: www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

independent.ie

Fionnán Sheahan: Echoes of Dev in Micheál and Simon’s purity test to keep ‘criminals’ out of the Dáil – when it suits

"All of the Fianna Fáil TDs for Kerry between 1926 and 1933 had been members of the IRA during the War of Independence and the Civil War. Many of them would continue to maintain open links with the IR...

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Congratulations to Michael Loughman on his new biography of James Ryan, minister in several governments. Lovely to meet his great-grandson, arguably the more famous James Ryan 🏉 James Ryan Snr was married to Máirín Cregan from #Killorglin. Lovely evening at Hodges Figgis adressed by Taoiseach

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Reposted by Dr. Owen O'Shea

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

The richest man owns X. The second and third richest men control Google. The fourth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The fifth richest man owns The Washington Post. And now the sixth richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros. See the problem here?

nytimes.com

Netflix Backs Out of Bid for Warner Bros., Paving Way for an Ellison Takeover

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Congratulations to my good friend @gerardshannon.bsky.social on the launch of his book on Rory O'Connor tonight at Chapters Bookshop. The first ever biography of O'Connor which was launched by Éamon Ó Cuiv and published by Merrion Press. And lovely as always to meet the wonderful Liz Gillis

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Reposted by Dr. Owen O'Shea

Chapters Bookstore, Parnell St, D1 @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Who benefits when history reduces Rory O’Connor to a single moment? Come to the launch & argue (politely): was O’Connor a doomed idealist, a strategic genius, or the one figure we still misunderstand most?

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Pleased to have contributed to this upcoming TG4 documentary on the Blueblouses, the women's wing of the Blueshirts in the early 1930s in Ireland, which airs on Wednesday 4 March at 9.30pm on TG4 An important and timely documentary on a largely forgotten organisation www.imdb.com/title/tt3974...

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Reposted by Dr. Owen O'Shea

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

JD Vance personally invited Pope Leo to the U.S. 250th celebration on the 4th of July. Today the Vatican announced Leo will be spending the day with migrants instead.

time.com

Pope Leo Will Spend July 4 Visiting Migrant Crossing Island

Pope Leo has spoken out against the treatment of migrants in the United States several times over the last year.

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

A recording of the recent opening by Taoiseach Micheál Martin of my exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry Running at Tralee Library to 28 February and Killarney Library from 10 to 31 March Funded by @ria.ie youtu.be/zKYitnHg7z8?...

youtu.be

Soldiers of Destiny: The Early Years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry

YouTube video by Owen O'Shea

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Reposted by Dr. Owen O'Shea

UCD Press @ucdpress.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

On Monday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin opened 'The Soldiers of Destiny, Fianna Fáil in Kerry 1926–1933', a Centenary exhibition on Fianna Fáil in Kerry curated by UCD Press author Dr. Owen O'Shea. 🖼️ The exhibition will be on display from 16 to 28 Feb in Tralee and 10 to 31 March in Killarney.

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

It was an honour to welcome An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD today to officially open my new centenary exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry. Exhibition runs at Tralee Library until 28 February and at Killarney Library from 10 to 31 March. The exhibition is supported by the @ria.ie

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Dr. Owen O'Shea @owenoshea.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

A little sneak preview of my new exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry which runs at Tralee Library from 16 to 28 February The party is 100 years old in 2026 Funded by @ria.ie Commemorations Bursary #history #kerry #politics #FiannaFail #elections