Identity Statement
| Title | The Muiris Kavanagh Archive |
| Archive Reference | IE MU/PP/8 |
| Web Link to this Entry | https://iar.ie/archive/muiris-kavanagh-archive |
| Creation Dates | 1817-1994 |
| Extent Medium | 111 items |
Context
Creator(s): Kavanagh, Muiris, 1894-1971
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Administrative History ↴
Muiris Kavanagh (1894-1971) was born at Baile na Ratha, Dún Chaoin, County Kerry in 1894. He earned the nickname ‘Kruger’ while at primary school, for his support of President Paulus Kruger of the Boers during the second Boer War. He emigrated to America in 1913 where he was employed in a number of professions including as a reporter for the New Haven Times, as an officer in the US Army and as a publicity manager for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film company. Kavanagh returned to Ireland in 1929, where her married Cáit Ní Neill and settled in Dún Chaoin. The couple opened a guesthouse and bar named Kruger’s, which was to become one of the most well known establishments in Ireland, playing host to internationals stars as well as artists, writers and students of the Irish language. Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles were reportedly regulars at the bar during the filming of Ryan’s Daughter. Brendan Behan also frequented the county Kerry bar. Kavanagh was well known for his storytelling and skills as an entertaining host. He was also a vocal promoter of the Irish language, the Kerry Gaeltacht and the Blasket Islands. He died in 1971and is buried in Dún Chaoin. -
Archival History ↴
Unknown -
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Unknown
Content & Structure
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Scope & Content: Kavanagh, Muiris, 1894-1971 ↴
The archive consists of letters to Kavanagh from friends on a wide variety of topics including, his time in America, poetry and visits to the guesthouse, as well as some official letters regarding the guesthouse and the Irish Tourist Board. Other correspondence includes a series of letters to Tadhg Ó Dúshláine concerning stories and memories about Kavanagh (1993-1994). Also includes a number of typescript poems by Kavanagh and personal documents including a birth certificate, drivers licence and membership cards issued to Muiris Kavanagh.
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Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention -
Accruals ↴
No further accruals expected -
Arrangement ↴
The collection is arranged as follows:
A. Personal Items
B. Correspondence [1930-1994]
C. Literary Material
D. Photographs
E. Newspaper articles
Conditions of Access & Use
| Access Conditions | Open by appointment to those holding a current readers card |
| Conditions Governing Reproduction | No reproduction allowed |
| Creation Dates | 1817-1994 |
| Extent Medium | 111 items |
| Material Language Script | English, Irish |
| Finding Aids | Descriptive list Archive Web Link → |
Allied Materials
There are no Allied Materials
Descriptive Control Area
| Archivist Note | Maynooth University |
| Rules/Conventions | ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000.National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997. |
| Date of Descriptions | 2012 |