Protests over Melville exhibit

MEMBERS of Republican Sinn Féin yesterday protested outside the Kerry County Museum in Tralee where an exhibition is being held on William Melville, founder of the British Secret Service.

About 12 people took part in the two-hour protest on the 90th anniversary of the passing of Kerry Fenian and freedom fighter Thomas Ashe, who died from the effects of forced feeding after a long hunger strike in September 1917.

The museum is located in the Ashe Memorial Hall, dedicated to the memory of Thomas Ashe, from Kinard in the Dingle Peninsula.

PRO for Republican Sinn Féin Matt Leen, in north Kerry, said it was a travesty to be commemorating a “renegade” such as Melville in a hall called after one of Ireland’s greatest patriots.

Melville was born in Sneem, Co Kerry, but emigrated to London in his teens. He spent his entire career protecting the British establishment and fighting terrorism.

He was closely connected with the founding of Scotland Yard, MI5, the British Secret Service and is also credited with inspiring the character James Bond.

However, Mr Leen said he could think of thousands of Kerry people who would be more worthy subjects of exhibitions, including Peig Sayers, Tom Barry and Bryan MacMahon.

“William Melville spent his lifetime subverting the authority of this country with his MI5 agents and spies. Are we going to have an exhibition about the Black and Tans, or Cromwell, next?” he said.

Museum curator Helen O’Carroll said she was “delighted” to see Mr Leen raising questions, saying it was only right people should be asking what the museum was up to.

“I think Republican Sinn Féin should be applauded for caring that much about our history,” she added.

But she said the museum had to put on exhibitions that would draw people.

“Our most successful exhibitions concern the stories of interesting people and their times, because people are interested in other people,” said Ms O’Carroll

She said there was no question of hero-worshipping — or celebrating — Melville.