Bi-centenary of Daniel O’Connell’s revolt in Kilmainham Courthouse, 30 December 1820

Kilmainham Gaol launches exhibition to mark the 200th anniversary of a significant event in the early political career of Daniel O’Connell

This year marks the bi-centenary of the opening of Kilmainham Courthouse, and one of the most dramatic events in its history. On 30 December 1820, Daniel O’Connell led a revolt at a meeting of the freeholders of County Dublin. The freeholders were those men in the county who held sufficient property to be entitled to vote. The meeting had been called by the King’s representative in the county, the High Sheriff Sir Richard Steele. Steele was part of the British government’s administration in Ireland and tried to force the freeholders to issue a loyal address to King George IV. The King was particularly unpopular at the time, not only because of his extravagance and self-indulgence, but also because of his attempt to divorce his wife, Queen Caroline. Many of those who opposed the King and his government took up the cause of the injured Queen.

O’Connell saw this meeting as an opportunity to highlight what he saw as the dictatorial and repressive nature of the British government’s administration of Ireland. He led a call for Valentine Brown Lawless, 2nd Lord Cloncurry, to chair the meeting. Cloncurry had long been a critic of the British rule in Ireland and in his youth he had been imprisoned as a result of his involvement in the United Irishman rebellion of 1798. Another former member of the United Irishmen, Archibald Hamilton Rowan, was also present in Kilmainham and played a leading role in disrupting the meeting. When the High Sheriff saw that he was losing control of the proceedings he responded by banning the meeting and ordered armed soldiers to clear the building. O’Connell re-assembled the meeting across the road from the Courthouse, and they issued an address to George IV in which they condemned his treatment of the Queen and called his attention to the ‘multiplied distress and aggravated miseries of your faithful people of Ireland, since the measure of the Union.’ Three days later O’Connell said:

‘The voice and the sentiments which went forth at Kilmainham, have thrilled through every heart in the country. They have spoken, trumpet-tongued, the feelings of independence which beats in every Irish bosom, and I hope they will be re-echoed throughout every part of Ireland!’

O’Connell’s disruption of this meeting was part of his wider strategy in the 1810s and 1820s to challenge the British administration at every opportunity and demand reform. This campaign of agitation culminated in the achievement of Catholic Emancipation in 1829

To mark the bi-centenary of this event, Kilmainham Gaol Museum has mounted a special display in the Courthouse which features a recently conserved portrait of Daniel O’Connell. It is joined by portraits of Lord Cloncurry and the United Irishman, Archibald Hamilton Rowan. Both of these pictures have been lent to the Museum by Áras and Uachtaráin and the Office of the President specially for the exhibition.

While the museum is closed to the public, journalists and photographers can access the exhibition on Wednesday, 23 December. For further information and high res images, please contact Brian Crowley, Kilmainham Gaol Museum at 086 807 9071 or at brian.crowley@opw.ie

ENDS

Notes for editors

Kilmainham Gaol is located at Inchicore Road, Dublin 8, D08 T2X5.

It is currently closed due to the Covid-19 Government restrictions, but would normally be open from 9.30am to 5.30pm (last admission 5pm), seven days a week.