merrion street

The Annual Commemoration of Daniel O Connell, the Liberator, 1775 - 1847, will take place on Sunday 20 May, 2012 at 12 noon at the O’Connell

Mausoleum at Glasnevin Cemetery.

Along with the representative of the Government Minister of State, Mr Joe Costello TD, the commemorative arrangements will include the Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague, the Mayor of Co. Kerry Councillor Pat Leahy, members of the O'Connell family and pupils of the O’Connell Schools.

Daniel O’Connell, a former Lord Mayor of Dublin, was the foremost

constitutional parliamentarian of his age. His mass peaceful mobilisation of the Irish people into the parliamentary process, resulting in Catholic Emancipation, was a template followed by many in later years. Not alone was he a Liberator to his people, he was a leading figure in the development of democracy and human rights in Europe.

The commemoration marks the 165th anniversary of the death of Daniel O’Connell in Genoa in May 1847. The O’Connell Mausoleum and Round Tower have been refurbished in recent years as part of the

continuing restoration and refurbishment of Glasnevin Cemetery.

The Cemetery will be open to the public from 10.00am to 6.00pm. Those interested in attending the commemoration are asked to be in attendance not later than 12.00 noon.

This commemoration will be preceded by a commemorative Mass at 10am at St Andrew’s Church, Westland Row, with which O'Connell was particularly associated.

Following the commemoration, the O’Connell Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Patrick Geoghegan at the Prospect Gallery, Glasnevin at

1.30pm.