Read more: Prime Minister slams opponents of Queen, Obama visits
VIDEO - A closer look at Obama’s ancestral home of Moneygall
The news that President Obama will honor Daniel O’Connell, the Irish patriot and creator of Catholic emancipation in 1829, completes an extraordinary circle in Irish and American life.
The Irish Times has reported that Obama is likely to visit the tomb of O’Connell in Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetry to pay tribute to him during his visit to Ireland on May 23rd.
Obama has singled out O’Connell because, almost alone among Irish and British leaders of his era, he condemned slavery.
By so doing Obama will elevate O’Connell from his current place in Irish history where he has been forgotten to some extent for his remarkable and non violent approach to Irish freedom.
He was also hugely influential in helping Fredrick Douglass, one of Obama’s heroes, when the escaped slave fled to Ireland in 1845 to escape from slave catchers.
O’Connell felt so strongly about slavery that he refused the support of over 20 pro-slavery members of parliament when they approached him and offered to help win Catholic emancipation and repeal of the Act of Union in return for supporting their efforts to keep slavery in the West Indies.
Here are extracts from speeches of O’Connell.
“I am an Abolitionist. I am for speedy, immediate abolition. I care not what caste, creed, or color, slavery may assume. Whether it be personal or political, mental or corporeal, intellectual or spiritual, I am for its total, its instant abolition. I enter into no compromise with slavery. I am for justice, in the name of humanity, and according to the law of the living God…..My soul object is to rouse the attention of England and Europe to all that is cruel, criminal, and in every sense of the word, infamous, in the system of negro slavery in North America. … no American slaveholder ought to be received on a footing of equality by any of the civilized inhabitants of Europe.”
Douglass for his part was captivated by O’Connell and his principled stand against slavery. “Daniel O’Connell, welcomed me to Ireland and to “Conciliation Hall,” and where I first had a specimen of his truly wondrous eloquence. Until I heard this man, I had thought that the story of his oratory and power was greatly exaggerated. I did not see how a man would speak to twenty or thirty-thousand people at one time, and be heard by any considerable number of them, but the mystery was solved when I saw his vast person and heard his musical voice.
His eloquence came down upon the vast assembly like a summer thunder-shower upon a dusty road. He could stir the multitude, at will, to a tempest of wrath, or reduce it to the silence with which a mother leaves the cradle side of her sleeping babe. Such tenderness – such pathos – such world-embracing love! And, on the other hand, such indignation – such fiery and thunderous denunciation, and such wit and humor, I never heard surpassed, if equaled, at home or abroad. He held Ireland within the grasp of his strong hand, and could lead it whithersoever he would, for Ireland believed in him and loved him, as she has loved and believed in no leader since.
In introducing me to an immense audience in Conciliation Hall, he playfully called me the “Black O’Connell of the United States;” nor did he let the occasion pass without his usual word of denunciation of our slave system.
No transatlantic statesman bore a testimony more marked and telling against the crime and curse of slavery, than did Daniel O’Connell. He would shake the hand of no slave-holder, nor allow himself to be introduced to one, if he knew him to be such. When the friends of repeal in the Southern States sent him money with which to carry on his work, he, with ineffable scorn, refused the bribe, and sent back what he considered the blood-stained offering, saying he would “never purchase the freedom of Ireland with the price of slaves”.
Such is the man Obama will rightfully honor in Dublin next month, uncovering a hidden chapter of Irish and American history that resonates through the ages more than ever today.
Read more: Prime Minister slams opponents of Queen, Obama visits
VIDEO - A closer look at Obama’s ancestral home of Moneygall
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.TheYank | Apr 28, 2011, 07:51 PM EDT
Irishphotograph,
Your ancestor is all but forgotten here. Would be great if President Obama brought some notice to Devoy, but I don't see it happening.
GeorgeDillon | Apr 28, 2011, 02:14 PM EDT
Sirpeter looks up something on the internet and then recycles it to the rest of us. We can all use wikipedia, don't bother us.
Irishphotograph | Apr 27, 2011, 07:03 AM EDT
Lets not forget John Devoy (IRB) my ancestor...google him my website wwww.imagesbydavid.net
sirpeter | Apr 26, 2011, 05:00 PM EDT
Georgy Boy..Just want to clarify the killing of D'Esterre.In 1815 a serious event in his life occurred. The Dublin Corporation had always been reactionary and bigoted against Catholics, and served the established Protestant Ascendancy. O'Connell in an 1815 speech referred to "The Corpo", as it was commonly referred to, as a "beggarly corporation". Its members and leaders were outraged and because O'Connell would not apologize, one of their number, the NOTED duellist John D'Esterre, CHELLENGED him. The duel had filled Dublin Castle (from where the British Government administered Ireland) with tense excitement at the prospect that O'Connell would be killed. They regarded O'Connell as "worse than a public nuisance," and would have welcomed any prospect of seeing him removed at this time.[9] O'Connell met D'Esterre and mortally wounded him (he was shot in the hip, the bullet then lodging in his stomach), in a duel at Oughterard, County Kildare. His conscience was bitterly sore by the fact that, not only had he killed a man, but he had left his family almost destitute. O'Connell offered to "share his income" with D'Esterre's widow, but she declined; however, she consented to accept an allowance for her daughter, which O'Connell regularly paid for more than thirty years until his death. The memory of the duel haunted him for the remainder of his life.Sounds like a man who didn't like violence to me. After all a person can be against violence but you can't run away from violence all the time. That's a coward Georgy.
GeorgeDillon | Apr 26, 2011, 04:37 PM EDT
More nonsense from TomSwinford. He tells us that O'Connell was "an apostle of non-violence". Baloney. O'Connell was a big supporter of violence, in the shape of the independence movements in Latin America. He was an admirer of violent revolutionary leaders like Bolivar and San Martin. He even sent his son, Morgan, to fight against the Spaniards in Colombia. No squeamishness about violence in that case! It's typical of a lot of Irish--they're blowhards in favor of "freedom" or "human rights" on the other side of the globe, but whining lapdogs when it comes to asserting Ireland's rights. Bono would be an example today. O'Connell a big fan of non-violence, TomSwinford? SO how come he killed a man, D'Esterre, over a triviality. TomSwinford, get yourself to a library, and start studying the history of Ireland. When you're done (should take you a few years) come back and post here.
GeorgeDillon | Apr 26, 2011, 04:08 PM EDT
Liamkeyes: "They should also change the name of Westmoreland Street". Liam, it is little short of amazing that all those Anglo street names were left unchallenged after "independence" (sic). The centers of Dublin, Cork and other cities are full of names that commemorate various British nonentities. That's the nature of the Irish--they're toadies. You even have names that honor militarist fools like Raglan, of the Charge of the Light Brigade. Clare Street in downtown Dublin seems pretty innocuous--named for County Clare, surely? NO, it turns out that this street was named for Lord Clare, he who was guilty of mass murder and ethnic cleansing when he headed the British administration during the 1798 Rebellion. And so on... I noticed in a newspaper someone sent me from Ireland that they are selling houses in a place called "Kensington Mews" in Dun Laoire. Looks like a lot of Irish really regret they were not born English.
Liamkeyes | Apr 26, 2011, 12:41 PM EDT
I don't believe that Daniel O'Connell is forgotten. His momument down at the Liffey Bridge is very imposing and it is the largest monument on O'Connell Street, since Nelson's Pillar was blown up by the IRA back in 1966. Of course the Street was named after him also. It sounds much better than it's previous name (Sackville Street). They should also change the name of Westmoreland Street while they're at it. Up at the far end of O'Connell Street is another fine Monument, the Parnell Monument, the square behind it ie named after him.
sirpeter | Apr 26, 2011, 12:34 PM EDT
Woodkern..You misquoted thomasbyrne.So now he can say you can't read.It just leads to spamming the board about nothing. If everyone started with all this grammar and punctuation crap.I would not be able to find all the people who deserve abuse. It is important that the loyalist scumbags and British lickasses don't get off lightly. Now take your grammar check agus Póg mo thóin.
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT
Woodkern, why do you discriminate against suburban inhabitants?
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT
Are you a teacher? I am!
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 11:52 AM EDT
then*
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 11:52 AM EDT
well the correct it if you so strongly desire!
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 11:51 AM EDT
Pogue Mahone is an album by the Pogues.
Woodkern | Apr 26, 2011, 11:47 AM EDT
Granted. I'll admit to a misquote. However, is "us Irish-Americans know" really an improvement?
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 11:41 AM EDT
I don't care what language people speak you elitist fool!
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 11:35 AM EDT
Woodkern, "us is" was not used by me!
Woodkern | Apr 26, 2011, 10:02 AM EDT
"Us is" is not an element of a "dialect", Sirpeter, not even on Fox News. It's just atrocious English. I can tell you that it's "Póg mo thóin", thomasbyrne, and that it's rather lame Béarlachas. Certainly, there are more robust malltachtaí in Irish available. However, you might want to learn basic English (as you undoubtedly demand of immigrants) before trying your hand at Irish. At the very least, run your comments through a grammar check before posting.
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 08:46 AM EDT
Really, woodkern? What can you tell us about pogue mahone?
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 08:40 AM EDT
PMSL
sirpeter | Apr 26, 2011, 08:22 AM EDT
Woodkern.Try not to be a pri*k all your life.People comment and speak English with their own dialect. That does not take away from the content of their post.You obviously never traveled England.English grammar all over England would make your head spin but in an entertaining way. It's a bastard language and can be used anyway a person wants. In fact speaking it correctly is dull and boring.But not so when I can add the best word in the English language between your name to express my contempt at the internet grammar police.....OK Woodfu*kingkern
sirpeter | Apr 26, 2011, 07:50 AM EDT
@TomSwinford..Yes!! He was an apostle of non-violence and well the English knew it!! The British government, banned one such PEACEFUL!!! proposed monster meeting at Clontarf, County Dublin,. This move was made after the biggest PEACEFUL!!! monster meeting was held at Tara.The British government threatened to bring in the British army and be VIOLENT!! If it went ahead. Been a PEACEFUL!!! man he called it off.Daniel O’Connell got nothing from the British.But only served to divide the rich Irish from the poor.Michael Doheny, in his The Felon's Track, says that the very character of Catholic Emancipation has assumed an "exaggerated and false guise" and that it is an error to call it emancipation.John Mitchel (Young Irelander) agrees that Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington said they brought in this measure, to avert civil war; but says that "no British statesman ever officially tells the truth, or assigns to any act its real motive."Their real motive was, according to Mitchel, to buy into the British interests, the landed and educated Catholics, these "Respectable Catholics" would then be contented, and "become West Britons" from that day. Those West Britons are still a blight on Ireland even to this day.The only reason the queen got invited..WEST BRITS.
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 07:36 AM EDT
So would you like me to re-phrase it as "We, as Irish-Americans have complete knowledge of grammar!"?
thomasbyrne | Apr 26, 2011, 07:33 AM EDT
What would you like to know about grammar Ms Pompous?
Woodkern | Apr 26, 2011, 07:09 AM EDT
Really, thomasbyrne? Now, what can you tell us about English grammar?
rickycat | Apr 26, 2011, 07:09 AM EDT
Frederick Douglas and Daniel O'Connell were two great and principled men - it is fitting that their names should be linked now to teach another generation what it means to speak and act with moral clarity. President Obama's attention brings honor to them and to him.
Woodkern | Apr 26, 2011, 07:03 AM EDT
Really, thomasbyrne? Now, what do you know about English grammar?
thomasbyrne | Apr 25, 2011, 11:35 PM EDT
Excuse me but us Irish-Americans know more than you think.
ellenfromcork | Apr 25, 2011, 07:54 PM EDT
Woodkern, I'm w/ you 200%! The Ireland of their imagination has no real existence. They have little idea of ireland today as the ones running the NYC St Patrick's Day parade.
Aleeyne | Apr 25, 2011, 06:47 PM EDT
This is a great and inspiring article about this irish patriot O'CONNELL. The few bigots commenting below should stop bitsing and go back to their caves.
seanomelbourne | Apr 25, 2011, 06:39 PM EDT
OÇonnell never lifted a finger to help the enslaved Irish tenant farmers he waddled out in sandymount to carry "his liege"George of England so his little tootsie wouldn't get wet.He was a master mason,a captain in HM yeomanry and an all round sanctimonious hypocrite.
Woodman | Apr 25, 2011, 05:21 PM EDT
O'Connell is not well remembered because for all his talk about slavery, the Irish people went through a British government induced famine, and he did little to call attention to it. WB Yeats and others also claimed O'Connell was a sexual degenerate, "you could not throw a stone in an Irish Liverpool, and not hit one of his bastard children." So not such a great fellow, he only advanced anything if it was for his own personal benefitt.
PhlutiePhan | Apr 25, 2011, 05:11 PM EDT
"Obimini" is over in Ireland "pandering" for votes. Why hasn't he been to the Phillipines? It's because they do not have a voting block. I do not know much about Mr. O'Connell. However, the nature of a "freedom 'fighter'" does not connote pacifism. I'll bet if you dig into the background of O'Connell, there will some surface some aspect of "dandyism". There is no doubt of the marxist principles of Mr. Obama. However, this dovetails nicely with the emerging "gay" priesthood and its dovetailing with liberation theology. Do some reading on Malachi Brendan Martin and you will "know the entire story"!
PhlutiePhan | Apr 25, 2011, 03:50 PM EDT
The reason O'Connell has received little attention over these last few decades is because he was an apostle of non-violence and, therefore, in our perverted notion of heroism, not very manly. Yet, without bloodshed, using passive resistance as a political tool and working within the system, he accomplished far more toward the goal of Irish freedom than any other person before or since. He remains a giant in Irish history - and one of perhaps a handful of authentic hereos. More than most countries, we have chosen our hereos poorly. We go for the romantic and dashing gunman type - even though most of these were fools, incompetents, dreamy and dopey idealists, self-serving cynics or just plain run-of-the-mill thugs and murderers - and, of course, almost all singularly anti-democratic. We would not want to live in the Ireland of their dreams. We owe much to Dan O'Connell.
McNamara31 | Apr 25, 2011, 03:30 PM EDT
Skibberrean "My Irish brothers and sisters please don't be fooled by this MARXIST!!" .....Oh please!.....Your Irish Brothers and Sisters know far more about Obama and global politics than their brainwashed FOX(propaganda)watching cousins in the States.
irishbob | Apr 25, 2011, 03:22 PM EDT
Before Obama decided to visit Mr. O'Connell's tomb, he had no idea who the man was or what he had done. The one and only reason a visit was planned was to get the Irish vote. Obama does not care one way or the other about anything but votes.
edmundburke | Apr 25, 2011, 03:17 PM EDT
On the subject of O'Connell, slavery, and Frederick Douglass, it appears clear that not only did O'Connell firmly support Douglass during his post-emancipation stay in Ireland, Douglass was influenced by O'Connell and greatly admired him. A historic relationship truly worthy of remembrance. However, while O'Connell clearly supported the abolition of slavery, he himself was a rather minor actor in the movement to end slavery. Moreover, the British had abolished slavery in the British Isles in the late 18th century and had banned international slave trade shortly thereafter. The British abolition of slavery in 1832 applied to the remnant of slavery within the Empire, something quite clearly foreseen as a coming development,certainly under any prospective Whig government. Credit to O'Connell for any advance in abolition should be sparing and balanced.
Woodkern | Apr 25, 2011, 02:57 PM EDT
It's always fun to watch the "Irish"-Americans in the suburbs unravel whenever President Obama is mentioned by Irish Central.
goldenblade | Apr 25, 2011, 01:07 PM EDT
I believe LinLinisme is (a) racist and (b) of low intelligence. Figures.
elektros | Apr 25, 2011, 01:02 PM EDT
You know, in the US, Republican doesn't mean they are in favour of reunification of the six counties. I wonder if those of you who accuse Obama of ignorance are aware of that simple fact?
jdi2269 | Apr 25, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT
YOU REALLY BELIEVE OBAMA KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT IRISH HISTORY? HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY STATES ARE IN THE U.S.!!!!!! IS IT TRUE THAT IRISH CENTRAL HAS NOW FOUND THAT OBAMA'S DOG HAS IRISH ROOTS?????
Skibberrean | Apr 25, 2011, 11:10 AM EDT
Oh Please, Obama is such a fraud, he will use anything to get votes. He is nothing but a PHONY! Obama didn't know who Fredrick Douglas was. He did some homework to make it look good. My Irish brothers and sisters please don't be fooled by this MARXIST!!
pilib04 | Apr 25, 2011, 10:53 AM EDT
Wow, Frederick Douglas and Daniel O'Connell. Two great fighters for liberation. Glad our President is going to Glasnevin. It's true that O'Connell is often forgotten when Irish Freedom Fighters are discussed. This is great news.