Marking 250 Years Since the Birth of Daniel O’Connell

A brilliant orator, political organiser and advocate for non-violent reform, O’Connell led the campaign for Catholic Emancipation and founded the Repeal Association to challenge the Act of Union. Known as ‘The Liberator’, he was the first Catholic to win a seat in the British Parliament in more than 100 years. O’Connell helped forge a model of peaceful mass mobilisation that influenced movements far beyond Ireland. 

As we mark the 250th anniversary of his birth this year, the National Library of Ireland (NLI) invites the public to rediscover the life and legacy of one of the nation’s most consequential political figures through our unparalleled Daniel O’Connell collections. 

Dr. Audrey Whitty, Director of the National Library of Ireland, said: “The unparallelled holdings in the National Library on the life, work, associates and family of Daniel O’Connell provide firsthand evidence of the vastness of his contribution to 19th century Irish and indeed European political mass movement. His mobilisation of grassroots support throughout Ireland and the Irish diaspora was underlined by peaceful, democratic and lobbyist methods which gives Ireland one of the richest histories in this respect anywhere in the world.”  

Explore O’Connell’s Life Through the NLI Collections 

The NLI holds one of the richest archival collections in the world dedicated to Daniel O’Connell, providing unparalleled insights into his life and legacy. These remarkable collections, unique in their depth and breadth, feature an extensive range of manuscript documents and visual materials, chronicling both his public achievements and private moments. As Ireland’s library of record and a legal deposit library, the NLI also preserves all published works related to O’Connell, making it an essential resource for those researching this pivotal figure.  

Explore these unique holdings to discover more about O’Connell and gain a deeper understanding of the popular movements he led. 

Among the highlights in our collection are: 

Political Correspondence 

Letters between O’Connell and his political and financial manager, PV Fitzpatrick, as well as correspondence with philosopher Jeremy Bentham. These documents offer valuable insights into O’Connell’s involvement in international political and intellectual circles. 

Personal Letters and Family Papers

Intimate correspondence between O'Connell and his wife, Mary, provides an account of their life together, from their courtship in 1800 until Mary's death in 1836. 

Papers relating to the O'Connell family and Derrynane House, 1773-1931 which include deeds, grants and certificates relating to the O’Connell family, genealogical material relating to the O’Connell family, and family correspondence, are available here.

Historical Newspaper Coverage 

Reports from The Nation, a newspaper founded by the Young Irelanders, who were members of O’Connell’s Repeal Association. This coverage documents the famous "Monster Meetings" of 1843, during which thousands of people peacefully demanded the repeal of the Act of Union. Learn more about our collection of newspapers here. 

Visual Materials 

The Prints and Drawings Collection visually traces the evolution of O'Connell's public image, from early portraits that detail his legal career to later images that highlight his political prominence. This includes both supportive illustrations and critical satirical cartoons, capturing the controversial and transformative aspects of his leadership. 

National Commemorations 

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, recently announced the launch of the Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Programme to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. More information on the Government's Daniel O'Connell Commemorative Programme can be found here.

Explore Daniel O’Connell at your National Library of Ireland 

The National Library's holdings on Daniel O’Connell are freely accessible to anyone curious about this pivotal figure in Irish and international history.  

We welcome all to explore these materials at the NLI through our free reader services. Register for a Reader’s Ticket  and visit our reading rooms to engage directly with the collections. Many items are also digitised and accessible through our online catalogue.