It was a time of growing political tension, and Michael Collins was scheduled to cross the Cork border on a visit to Kerry.
The background to his visit is outlined in a new local history publication, A Pictorial History of Tralee.
"The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed on 6th December 1921. The Dáil ratified it on 7th January 1922 by the narrow margin of 64 votes to 57," write Russell McMorran and Maurice O' Keeffe. "On 16th January a Provisional Government, headed by Michael Collins, took over the Government of the Free State from the British. An election was fixed for 16th June. The main issue was acceptance or rejection of the Treaty."
Collins came to Kerry on Saturday, April 22nd. An advertisement from the time, which is one of the book's many splendid illustrations, advertised a "monster self-determination meeting" at the market in Tralee on the Sunday. It was to be addressed by Collins, General Sean MacEoin, Kevin O'Higgins, Fionan Lynch and James Crowley.
They would speak "to support the right of the sovereign people of Ireland to decide their own destiny". There would be trains from Kenmare, Caherciveen, Castleisland, Newcastlewest, Dingle and Killarney.
The authors take up the story: "The IRA in the county was strongly opposed to the Treaty and issued a proclamation prohibiting Collins's rallies and warning the people to stay off the streets. At Killarney, the platform erected for the speakers was burned, but a successful meeting was held in the grounds of the Franciscan Friary. On Sunday, Collins and his party travelled to Tralee and made their headquarters at the Central Hotel in Denny Street. On the following morning, they attended Mass in St John's Church and heard Dean David O'Leary roundly condemn the attempts to prevent free speech and free assembly.
"The political meeting, held in the afternoon, was transferred from the Market to Denny Street, probably for reasons of security. Opponents of the Treaty had blocked all the roads leading into Tralee and also made gaps in the railway tracks, except in the line from Dingle. Despite the atmosphere of intimidation, about 4,000 people turned out to hear the Government speakers. There were some disturbances at the beginning and two revolver shots were fired, but this had no effect on the crowd."
Collins made what the Kerry People described as a "closely reasoned speech" and was listened to intently. The authors go on to say that MacEoin, O'Higgins and Lynch also spoke, "but were outshone by Father Patrick Brennan of Castleisland, who had ridden into town on horseback, and Father William Ferris of Tralee, who leavened his speech with humour. The meeting ended on a positive note and the people went home in good humour."
The authors note that in that spring of 1922, as Ireland drifted towards civil war, the poet Austin Clark holidayed in Kerry. "He found the people wary of strangers and apprehensive about the future. Republican police questioned him twice - once in suspicion of robbing a bank - as he cycled around the county, but his most unpleasant experience was undoubtedly a night spend in a flea-ridden bed in a Tralee lodging-house.
"He was frequently asked if the Provisional Government and the Republicans had settled their differences in Dublin, and noticed how downcast the people were by the lack of political progress."
The religious fervour of the annual Corpus Christi procession provided a boost for locals. "A stranger, not of our faith, visiting here, would have been amazed and mystified by it," the Kerry People observed. "In perfect order and with almost military precision, a vast procession wended its way through our streets, singing the praises of the Divine Master, and proclaiming by their presence and their prayers the undying faith so deeply rooted in their hearts."
The history of Tralee, its people, including some notable characters, its buildings, streets and heritage all feature in this well-researched hardback.
The atmosphere of another age is captured in a photograph, taken in the mid-1950s, of Miss Alice Bolster (popularly known as Juggy), "the Victorian grocer's grand-daughter, trudging along the street with a container of paraffin oil in her hand, oblivious to Joanie O'Connell's nearby donkey and cart".
Kerry was a GAA stronghold in those days, when the infamous ban on "foreign games" was rigidly enforced. Yet the book notes that after a lapse of over a decade, several soccer clubs sprang up in the town at that time. And the names reflected those of glamorous British clubs.
"Marian United and Tralee United, both founded in 1954, were the earliest," according to the authors. "Oakpark Rangers, based on the northern suburb of the town, came into existence a year or two later."
They go on to note that Oakpark Rangers broke new ground on Sunday, August 10th, 1958, when they took on a German side representing the newly opened Liebherr crane factory in Killarney. For the record, the Killarney side won the then "foreign game" by eight goals to three.