Casey, John (1769/70–1861), priest and antiquary, was born in Castleshannon, Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry; his father was possibly a native of Ballyheigue, his mother a Lawlor from Ardfert. Educated at the college of Killarney, he was ordained in 1804, aged thirty-five. It is believed he ministered in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, before moving to Ferritear, where he became parish priest in August 1819.
Casey had a keen interest in antiquities, ogham stones in particular, and he located many stones in the Corkaguiny area. His association with the antiquarian John Windele (qv) began about 1837, and they corresponded on matters of antiquarian interest for over sixteen years; Windele often deferred to Casey, especially in relation to ogham stones. Casey also contributed antiquarian notes to the Tralee Chronicle. A fluent Irish speaker, he collected manuscripts and books in Irish and many other languages. His knowledge of local antiquities was renowned: when Sir William and his wife Henrietta Chatterton (qv) visited Kerry in 1838, Casey acted as their tour guide; Lady Chatterton mentions him favourably in her book Rambles in the south of Ireland. Mrs Asenath Nicholson (qv), who visited Casey in 1844, remarked that ‘he united the benevolent gentleman with the learned linguist and antiquary’ (O'Sullivan, 557).
Casey was parish priest in Ferritear at a time of intensive proselytisation, but did not share in the usual bitterness between catholic clergy and the proselytisers. He had many protestant friends, and earned himself the title of ‘protestant priest’. In August 1844 he resigned as parish priest after the conversions to protestantism of his parish clerk and his curate, Denis Leyne Brasbie, but continued to live in the parochial house until 17 March 1846. He was then appointed chaplain to the Sisters of Mercy in Killarney, where his lengthy masses became famous. When approached about this he replied that he had ‘no intention of making a fox-hunter's jig out of the mass’. Known for his fiery temper, he had a particular dislike of card-players and pipers: he once attacked a piper from Dingle so vehemently that the piper became a protestant.
In September 1851 Casey moved into the house of the Presentation Brothers, where he remained until his death. Although his sight was failing, he continued to visit historic sites as late as 1858. He joined the Kilkenny Archaeological Society (later the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland) in 1851, and was also a member of the Kilkenny and South Eastern Ireland Archaeological and Ossianic Society. He died 18 January 1861.