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| Daniel O'Connell Back to Ireland Main Download this eBook : Biography |
Daniel O'Connell was born in 1775 in Cahirciveen, County Kerry. Although he
was born into the native ascendancy, he was raised among the Catholic
peasantry and thus learned not only the Gaelic language, but also the many
tribulations faced by the poorer class.
As a teenager he was sent to France for further education but travelled to
London in 1793 on foot of the French revolution. His experience of the
violence that was part of the revolution forged his lifelong commitment to
peaceful means to achieve social change.
He qualified as a barrister and built a successful practice in Dublin. O'Connell
abhorred the violence of the Wolfe Tone led 1798 rebellion but agreed with
the overall aims of thr United Irishmen.
In 1802 O'Connell married his cousin Mary. The marriage was a good one with
12 children being born, although only 7 survived.
The 1800 Act of Union had raised hopes of Catholic emancipation but these
remained unfulfilled. O'Connell soon got involved in political activities and in
1823 founded the Catholic Association with the express aim of securing
emancipation.
O'Connell was known a famous orator, debater and a sharp wit. He was a
regular thorn in the side of the Dublin authorities and when in 1815, he called
Dublin Corporation a 'beggarly corporation', the authorities thought they had
a chance to discredit him. One member of the Corporation, D'Esterre, a noted
duelist, challenged him to a duel. If O'Connell accepted the challenge then it
was thought he would certainly be killed. If he backed down then he would be
politically damaged and discredited.
To everyone's surprise O'Connell accepted the challenge and fatally wounded
D'Esterre. O'Connell always regretted his death, and later assisted the D'Estere
family financially.
With the backing of the clergy O'Connell stood for election to the English
parliament in County Clare in 1828. A massive victory for O'Connell followed as
the momentum for reform gathered pace. O'Connell refused to take the Oath
of Allegiance to the English crown and the crisis point had been reached. With
6 m-illion supporters backing O'Connell the English government feared an
uprising was on the cards and eventually granted Catholic emancipation in
1829. O'Connell was now the undisputed hero of Ireland and a year later
became the first Catholic in modern history to be take his seat at the English
parliament.
By this time O'Connell had given up his legal practice and was concentrating
fully on politics. He set his sight on repealing the Act of Union and the
establishment of an Irish parliament. His Repeal Association organised monster
meetings that attracted hundreds of thousands. An estimated three-quarters
of a m-illion people attended the Hill of Tara meeting. The authorities
responded by banning a similar meeting scheduled for Clontarf in 1843.
Despite cancelling the meeting O'Connell was arrested and charged with
conspiracy. He served 3 months in prison before being released but the
damage had been done. The tactics that had achieved emancipation could
not be used to achieve an Irish parliament. His stay in prison had also adversely
affected his health.
The more radical 'Young Irelanders' withdrew from the Repeal Association. In
the countryside the potato crop was already beginning to fail. The Great
Famine of 1847 devastated the Irish countryside. O'Connell tried to help and
spoke in the London parliament, appealing for aid for his desperate starving
countrymen.
O'Connell will always be known as the 'Liberator' and Catholic emancipation
was indeed his greatest success. It is unknown if his peaceful mass protests
could have achieved any further concessions on the road to Irish
independence. The famine that resulted in over 1 million deaths from
starvation and a further million taking the emigrants boat stopped any
political momentum dead in its tracks.
At 70 years of age O'Connell was advised to move to a warmer climate to
placate his ailing health. He set off for Rome but only made it as far as Genoa.
He died in May 1847 and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin. His
funeral was among the largest ever seen in Ireland.
Source: Wikipedia
was born into the native ascendancy, he was raised among the Catholic
peasantry and thus learned not only the Gaelic language, but also the many
tribulations faced by the poorer class.
As a teenager he was sent to France for further education but travelled to
London in 1793 on foot of the French revolution. His experience of the
violence that was part of the revolution forged his lifelong commitment to
peaceful means to achieve social change.
He qualified as a barrister and built a successful practice in Dublin. O'Connell
abhorred the violence of the Wolfe Tone led 1798 rebellion but agreed with
the overall aims of thr United Irishmen.
In 1802 O'Connell married his cousin Mary. The marriage was a good one with
12 children being born, although only 7 survived.
The 1800 Act of Union had raised hopes of Catholic emancipation but these
remained unfulfilled. O'Connell soon got involved in political activities and in
1823 founded the Catholic Association with the express aim of securing
emancipation.
O'Connell was known a famous orator, debater and a sharp wit. He was a
regular thorn in the side of the Dublin authorities and when in 1815, he called
Dublin Corporation a 'beggarly corporation', the authorities thought they had
a chance to discredit him. One member of the Corporation, D'Esterre, a noted
duelist, challenged him to a duel. If O'Connell accepted the challenge then it
was thought he would certainly be killed. If he backed down then he would be
politically damaged and discredited.
To everyone's surprise O'Connell accepted the challenge and fatally wounded
D'Esterre. O'Connell always regretted his death, and later assisted the D'Estere
family financially.
With the backing of the clergy O'Connell stood for election to the English
parliament in County Clare in 1828. A massive victory for O'Connell followed as
the momentum for reform gathered pace. O'Connell refused to take the Oath
of Allegiance to the English crown and the crisis point had been reached. With
6 m-illion supporters backing O'Connell the English government feared an
uprising was on the cards and eventually granted Catholic emancipation in
1829. O'Connell was now the undisputed hero of Ireland and a year later
became the first Catholic in modern history to be take his seat at the English
parliament.
By this time O'Connell had given up his legal practice and was concentrating
fully on politics. He set his sight on repealing the Act of Union and the
establishment of an Irish parliament. His Repeal Association organised monster
meetings that attracted hundreds of thousands. An estimated three-quarters
of a m-illion people attended the Hill of Tara meeting. The authorities
responded by banning a similar meeting scheduled for Clontarf in 1843.
Despite cancelling the meeting O'Connell was arrested and charged with
conspiracy. He served 3 months in prison before being released but the
damage had been done. The tactics that had achieved emancipation could
not be used to achieve an Irish parliament. His stay in prison had also adversely
affected his health.
The more radical 'Young Irelanders' withdrew from the Repeal Association. In
the countryside the potato crop was already beginning to fail. The Great
Famine of 1847 devastated the Irish countryside. O'Connell tried to help and
spoke in the London parliament, appealing for aid for his desperate starving
countrymen.
O'Connell will always be known as the 'Liberator' and Catholic emancipation
was indeed his greatest success. It is unknown if his peaceful mass protests
could have achieved any further concessions on the road to Irish
independence. The famine that resulted in over 1 million deaths from
starvation and a further million taking the emigrants boat stopped any
political momentum dead in its tracks.
At 70 years of age O'Connell was advised to move to a warmer climate to
placate his ailing health. He set off for Rome but only made it as far as Genoa.
He died in May 1847 and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin. His
funeral was among the largest ever seen in Ireland.
Source: Wikipedia
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Educational Printables
Lesson Plans
Arts & Crafts
Irish Music & Poems, Lyrics &
Mid Files
The Legend of St Patrick
Irish Recipes
Gaelic Tales & Folk Lore
St Patrick's Day Cards for little
ones to print and make
St Patrick's Day Activities
St Patrick's Day/Irish Blessings
St Patrick's Day Clipart
St Patrick's Day/Irish
Downloads, WPP's,
Screensavers etc
St Patrick's Day Colour Sheets
St Patrick's Day / Irish Music
Poems, Songs & Activities for
the little ones
The Irish National Anthem -
Music & Lyrics in Gaelic &
English
Free Full eBooks : Ireland
St Patrick's Day Portal -
hundreds of links to arts, crafts,
festivities and more
Send an e-Card
| An article provided by The Information about Ireland Site. Used with Permission : (C) Copyright http://www.ireland-information.com |