ONCE A SITE OF IRISH WAR CRIMES, now one of Ireland's top tourist destinations. Tralee, County Kerry

Tralee - drop-dead gorgeous, but with a dark past. You may remember some months ago I looked at the Irish cultural institution known as the Rose of Tralee. Well I’m back in beautiful Tralee, not to focus on the major festival again, but to look at the town itself, which as you’ll see has much to offer. A lot of work goes into these videos as you can well see! You can now buy me a pint as a means of appreciation for my work on Naked Ireland, no obligation, obviously - only if you can afford it... I appreciate it. Cheers. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nakedire... Tralee (Irish: Trá Lí, meaning “strand or beach of the Lee”) is the county town of Kerry, in the southwest of Ireland. It's set where the land meets Tralee Bay, sheltered by the Slieve Mish Mountains. We pass a monument called The pikeman (also known locally as The Croppy Boy). It commemorates the men who fought and died in the 1798 rebellion, and those of you who have been watching my other videos, will note that these United Irishmen statues are familiar in many Irish towns. While today Tralee is a lively market, administrative, and cultural centre, Tralee’s history goes back many centuries. It has its Anglo‑Norman foundations in the 13th century and became a medieval stronghold, and has seen rebellions, changing politics, changing ownership, even though, perhaps, somethings never change. The town was founded in 1216 by the Anglo‑Normans under John FitzThomas FitzGerald, and became a stronghold of the Earls of Desmond. In 1580, as part of the Desmond Rebellions against Elizabeth I, the medieval town was burnt. Later in 1587, Elizabeth I granted Tralee to Edward Denny. It was officially chartered in 1613. Denny Street is visited in the film. The Denny family played a big part in the development of Tralee. They took over lands, built, and shaped the town planning. The old castle of the Desmonds was eventually demolished; its site influenced the layout of modern Tralee. Denny Street is a wide, elegant Georgian street. It was laid out in 1826 on the site of that old castle. Many civic buildings date from this era. Lovely seeing these old Georgian building in such good condition. At the end of Denny Street stands the Ashe Memorial Hall, built 1928 in red sandstone, dedicated to Thomas Ashe (one of the 1916 Rising figures). It now houses the Kerry County Museum. Off Denny Street and almost surrounding the museum is a large city park, about 35 acres in total. It occupies the old castle demesne of the Dennys. Within the park are the Rose Garden and the Garden of the Senses, both designed to engage people in different ways. The site was landscaped in the 19th century, with paths, trees, a grotto, entrance lodge etc. The Siamsa Tire is also located in the park. This is Ireland’s National Folk Theatre and Arts Centre, situated in the town park. It produces regular folk theatre, music, cultural events and exhibitions. If you come to Tralee, you might want to see something here, so check local press for details as we used to say. Tralee saw significant political turmoil in the 20th Century in the War of Independence and Irish Civil War which followed. In 1920 there was an incident know as the "Siege of Tralee" undertaken by the Black and Tans who were mostly ex British Soldiers with a particularly heinous reputation. In response to IRA actions following the death of a prominent hunger striker, they imposed curfew, shooting local people who appeared in the streets, and stopping all food and drink from entering the town. Properties were burnt down and businesses closed. In another notable atrocity, at Ballyseedy, close to the town, one of the most despicable acts of the Irish Civil war was carried out by Free State forces. They executed 8 anti‑treaty prisoners by strapping them to a mine. It was another reprisal attack, but it shows how violence can spiral out of control, after all, these Free State forces and Anti Treaty prisoners had fought alongside each other against the British. There are lessons to be learned there, and not just in Ireland. The Square has been the market/trading area since the 1700s. It was redesigned and remodelled (in 2004). In Castle Street lower the building that houses the Bank of Ireland was originally a draper’s shop (John Lumsden’s) dating from 1838. It became the Munster & Leinster Bank. St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church also in Castle Street was built in1861, designed by J. J. McCarthy; the tower and spire was added later (around 1870). The Courthouse, Designed by William Vitruvius Morrison and built in 1834 is a neoclassical gem, complete with a prominent portico, steps and columns. On its steps are two cannons, which are memorials to Kerrymen who died in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion, so strong reminders here of the influence of the British Empire, not just in Ireland but around the world. The sun never sets on the British Empire - I think that’s what they used to say.