A major commemorative programme across Ireland has been announced to mark the 250th anniversary of The Liberator.
The Minister for Culture, Communications, and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has announced the Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Programme to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth.
The statesman, from Derrynane near Cahersiveen was born on 6th August 1775, and went on to lead the movement for Catholic emancipation.
Earlier this week, the O’Connell 250 Committee announced events which it will host next month, and the Minister has now announced a national programme to commemorate O’Connell.
There will be a state-led commemorative event at Derrynane House on 6th August, O’Connell’s birthday, and it will be broadcast live on RTÉ television.
The annual Daniel O’Connell Summer School will take place in Cahersiveen and Derrynane on 29th and 30th August, with An Taoiseach giving the Daniel O’Connell Lecture in Derrynane House.
The Bank of Ireland is gifting a statue of Daniel O’Connell, currently located in their College Green Branch, to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Central Bank of Ireland proposes issuing commemorative coins dedicated to O’Connell, while two commemorative stamps by artist David Rooney will launch on Thursday, 31 July.
Trinity College Dublin will host an O’Connell-themed symposium this month, with Attorney General Rossa Fanning and former Kerry TD and Minister Jimmy Deenihan among the chairs.
Trinity is also to develop a Daniel O’Connell school pack, which will be a permanent, interactive, digital online resource available to all.
Events will also be organised by the Bar of Ireland, the Irish Georgian Society, by local authorities including in Clare where he was elected, and internationally.
A television documentary about O’Connell is also being created, which will be broadcast on RTÉ.
Full details are available here.
