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.

"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...

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...

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

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...

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

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...

The Kerry woman who became a member of Pakistan's first parliament in 1970 Bridie Wren: the Queen of Balochistan owenoshea.ie/bridie-wren-...

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?...

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-...

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

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 👏

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-...

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

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

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

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/...

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

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/...

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

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

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 📚

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

The definitive account of the Easter Rising in Kerry and the men and women of the county who were involved in the dramatic events of 110 years ago #EasterRising owenoshea.ie/books/kerry-...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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...

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

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?

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

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?

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...

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.

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?...

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.

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

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

Thrilled to get a copy of this hugely important new biography of Rory O'Connor from my good friend and fellow historian @gerardshannon.bsky.social and published by @merrionpress.bsky.social A vital addition to the historiography of the revolutionary period #books #irishhistory

🗝️ New Exhibition in Killarney and Tralee: ‘Soldiers of Destiny’ Historian and UCD Press author Dr Owen O’Shea presents a new exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in County Kerry, which will go on public display at Kerry library branches during February and March. @owenoshea.bsky.social

Pleased to announce details of my forthcoming exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry to mark the party's centenary this year 🗓️ Tralee Library 16-28 February 🗓️ Killarney Library 10-31 March This exhibition is supported by the @ria.ie under its Commemorations Bursary Scheme, 2025-2026

Under the full moon: congratulations to the Kilgobnet Biddy for keeping our historic traditions alive in Beaufort tonight 🪗🎵 #biddy #biddies #StBrigid ##StBrigidsDay

On this day in 1919 #OTD There was just one of the four #Kerry MPs/TDs present at the first ever session of Dáil Éireann Piaras Béaslaí had the honour of reading the Democratic Programme of the Dàil which had been drafted by Labour leader Tom Johnson owenoshea.ie/the-only-ker...

Congratulations to my friend, mentor and my former lecturer at UCD, Professor Muiris Bric on his election last night as President of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society at our AGM at Tralee Library. Muiris brings tremendous experience to the role. Beir bua, Muiris!

Fairly sure it’s unintentional, but the end date on this mug being sold by the Smithsonian does make it sound a little like they’re saying America dies in 2026…