A Schoolboy’s Hero: Bob Finn of Castleisland

Bob Finn, Captain Moonlight has been given a new lease of life by 15-year-old Sam Jones, who selected the famous Castleisland agitator for his school project.[1]  ‘I chose to do this,’ writes Sam, great great grandson of Bob Finn, ‘because he is probably more important than any other person in my family.’     Sam […]

Honouring Bob Finn, Captain of the Castleisland Moonlighters

‘The Moonlighters were the first that put hope into the nation’ – Memoir of Jerry Lyons, 1951   Castleisland District Heritage this week (19 July 2023) pays homage to Bob Finn, Captain of the Castleisland Moonlighters, at a Grave Renewal Ceremony in Old Kilbannivane Cemetery, Castleisland.  The historic memorial has been refurbished, with substantial financial […]

The Three Axeteers: Foundation of the Castleisland Moonlighters

by John Roche, Chairman of the Michael O’Donohoe Project   In his book, A Popular History of East Kerry, published in 1930, T M Donovan gave a first-hand account of the formation of the organisation known as the Castleisland Moonlighters.   Though born almost three generations apart from Donovan (he was born in the 1860s, […]

Bob Finn: Captain of the Castleisland Moonlighters

Every fool can be a patriot … every blackguard can sing a national hymn and wave a flag.  But it takes a man to live a life of devotion and sacrifice for his country.1 Robert – ‘Bob’ – Finn was born in Castlegregory in 1860, son of William Finn and Sara Casey.  The family moved […]