Thomas Ashe: Memorials and Museum

Ashe Street (formerly Nelson Street), Tralee circa 1900

Ashe Memorial Hall,Tralee

Just four years after the death of Thomas Ashe Ireland achieved its independence from Great Britain.A native government replaced a British administration which had ruled the country for over 700 years.

The role of Thomas Ashe was not forgotten.His native county commemorated him by renaming Nelson Street in the capital town, Tralee in his honour and in 1928 when the impressive new headquarters of Kerry County Council was completed in 1928 it was called the Ashe Memorial Hall.

 THOMAS ASHE MUSEUM

Dingle Library incorporates the Thomas Ashe Memorial which contains a variety of books, pamphlets and material objects relating to the life of the patriot.

In 1967, on the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Thomas Ashe, Éamon de Valera, President of Ireland, visited Dingle Library. On that occasion the President presented to the Ashe collection a number of armlets worn at his funeral and the nurse's report sheet on the night Tomas Ashe died in the Mater Hospital.

Other exhibits were presented by relatives and friends. These include his Sam Brown belt, ceremonial sword, cap and uniform and the kit that he wore as a member of the Black Raven Pipe Band. Letters written by him from jail and documents relating to him are also a feature of the collection. A poignant remainder of his final ordeal is a crumb of bread from the portion which was forcibly fed to him before his death.

The Centenary of the birth of Thomas Ashe was celebrated in 1985. Among the activities were various tree planting ceremonies, the launching of a Thomas Ashe postage stamp, radio programmes and newspaper articles. Kerry County Library mounted an exhibition in Dingle Library and organised an essay competition in co-operation with Glór na nGael and Conradh na Gaeilge. Kerry County Council jointly published , with Coiste Cuimhneacháin Thomás Ághas, a special Centenary booklet on the patriot. The book, compiled by local schoolteacher Micheál Ó Móráin, was launched at a ceremony at Dingle Library in July 1985.

Museum Contents

• Beret, coat, hat, sword cross-belt, armlets, jacket
• 1 copy of 1916 proclamation
• 1 poem, "Thomas Ashe, A Story That will Never Die"
• Pamphlet – Music to "Let Me Carry Your Cross" (By H. Bonfils-Crowe)
• Ó Lúing, S. I die in a Good Cause
• Thomas Ághas booklet (1985)
• Ó Muirthile, S. Tréithe Thomáis Ághas
• Censored Letters
• Irish Volunteers Drill Flag
• Poster: "Dublin United Trades Council / Funeral of Thomas Ashe"
• Crumb from portion of bread given to Thomas Ashe during his hunger strike
• The Death of Thomas Ashe – full report of the Inquest
• Stone Slab "Ardamore National School" where Tomás Ághas went to school
• Thomas Ashe – Comdt. The Fingal Batt, Dublin Brigade 1916 – picture
• Mourning card, Thomas Ashe
• Launching of Thomas Ashe stamp, Ashe Memorial Hall, Tralee, 18 June, 1985
• Mounted page of Register of Ardamore N.S. including entry for Tomás Ághas
• Ashe family tree
• Original Tomás Ághas letters relating to his time in Mountjoy Prison, 1917.
• Tomás Ashe's watch chain.