Ireland - The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, today announced the launch of the Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Programme to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. This significant anniversary and the bicentenaries of some of the most pivotal moments in his career will be acknowledged and remembered in a number of dedicated events.
This Programme was developed in partnership with the Department of Culture,
Communications and Sport, the Department of the Taoiseach, the OPW, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other key stakeholders, including local community groups.Each event has been considered in accordance with the ethos and values of commemorations including accessibility, respectful remembrance, historical accuracy and the creation of opportunities to engage young people and the Diaspora with the formative events, personalities and themes of our past. Project partners are supported by the department to ensure that initiatives in this programme are in keeping with the established values and principles of commemorations.
The diverse programme covers the four commemorative pillars - historical exploration, artistic and creative response, community-led commemoration and State Ceremonial. Many counties have a significant connection to our national hero which is reflected in a number of engaging Community-led commemorative events.
The Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Programme was endorsed at the first sitting of the new Commemorations Advisory Committee, Chaired by Bryan Dobson.
Speaking today Minister Patrick O’Donovan said:
"Daniel O’Connell was one of the most important figures in Irish political history, not just for what he achieved, but for how he achieved it.
"He believed in peaceful reform, in democracy, and in civil rights; ideas and concepts to which we should still aspire today.
"Through this Programme we hope to highlight and celebrate Daniel O’Connell - the man and his political achievements. We aim to remind us all of both his lasting legacy at home and his significant international impact as a champion for civil rights across the globe."
The Programme includes:
State-led Commemorative Event, Derrynane House, Wednesday, 06 August 2025
A State-led Commemorative Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 06 August 2025, in Derrynane House- O’Connell’s principal residence and now an OPW managed historic property.
This will be a combination State-led and cultural commemorative event. The event which will have a strong community element will serve as a symbolic act of national remembrance.
It will shown live on the RTÉ News Channel and will be made available worldwide for live and catchup, on the RTÉ Player.
The Daniel O’Connell Summer School, 29-30 August
The Daniel O’Connell Summer School has been running for the past fourteen years in partnership with the OPW and Kerry County Council.
This anniversary year, it will be held in Cahersiveen (close to the birthplace of O’Connell) and Derrynane. It will consist of a number of short lectures on the life and legacies of O’Connell locally, nationally and internationally.
The department will be providing support to the Summer School to mark this significant year in a special way. They are proposing a full programme of speakers including from universities in the US and UK.
An Taoiseach Mícheál Martin will give the O’Connell Lecture in the Drawing Room in Derrynane House.
Trinity College Dublin: Commemorative programme including symposium and an education pack.
O’Connell 250 Symposium: Liberty, Democracy, and the Struggle for Human Rights is planned for July and the Attorney General, Rossa Fanning, and former Minister, Jimmy Deenihan, are among the confirmed Chairs.
Trinity College Dublin propose to produce a Daniel O’Connell school pack. It will be in the form of an interactive digital permanent online resource which can be hosted on a suitable platform and available to all, including pupils in Northern Ireland where O’Connell is on the History curriculum.
The Bar of Ireland (The Law Library)
Following on from its Daniel O’Connell Memorial Lecture in April, to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell, the Bar of Ireland is engaged with the department on a further event for Autumn 2025, where the Tánaiste will represent the government.
International Events
Daniel O’Connell had a significant worldwide impact, which will be recognised and highlighted through the Irish embassy network. This includes an event in the Reform Club in September hosted by the Irish Ambassador in London, to honour its former member. Further events will be scheduled at historic sites closely associated with O’Connell including possible events in Rome, Paris, and the US.
O'Connell 250 Celebrations
A full programme of events has been organised by O’Connell 250 Committee consisting of local and wide-ranging groups and organisations chaired by a representative from the Cahersiveen Local Development Group (ACARD). The Programme has been designed by the local committee and includes plaque unveilings, a civic reception, a monster meeting, music and sport events and takes place across the first week in August. This will be with the support of Kerry County Council and the department.
Bank of Ireland: Daniel O’Connell Statue
The Bank of Ireland is gifting a statue of Daniel O’Connell to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The statue which is currently located in their College Green Branch will be moved to the Leinster House building for unveiling later this year.
Central Bank of Ireland: Commemorative Coins
In 2025, the Central Bank of Ireland proposes issuing a number of commemorative coins to mark 250 years since Daniel O’Connell was born. This consists of a gold proof coin and a silver proof coin and there will also be a double set containing both.
An Post: Commemorative Stamp Programme 2025
Two Daniel O’Connell commemorative stamps by artist David Rooney are included in the 2025 stamp programme and will launch on Thursday, 31 July.
The Irish Georgian Society: Daniel O’Connell 250: architecture, designed landscapes and visual culture study day
The Irish Georgian Society in partnership with Dublin City Council and in association with Ulster Architectural Heritage, will be holding a Study Day in Dublin’s City Assembly House where, in 1843, O’Connell hosted a three-day debate on the Repeal of the Act of Union. Speakers at the event include Professor Maurice Bric, Professor Patrick Geoghegan, Dr Livia Hurley and Dr Kathryn Milligan.
Daniel O’Connell Documentary
Create One is producing a one-hour documentary exploring the life and legacy of Daniel O’Connell. The documentary, which will air on RTÉ, explores one of the most significant periods in Irish history and reveals how O’Connell’s achievement continues to shape and impact our world today. The documentary will be circulated to schools and the library service through the Department of Education and the Local Authority Network, and with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Irish Embassy Network.
Programme of Local Authority Events
A number of Local Authorities are planning Daniel O’Connell Commemorations with supported through the Local Authority Commemoration Grants administered through the Commemorations Unit in the department.
Kerry County Council
Will be supporting the O’Connell 250 Programme and are also proposing to upgrade the Daniel O’Connell Exhibition at Cahersiveen Library in advance of the State-led event. The upgrades include conservation works to the gifted exhibition that was formerly housed in the Bank of Ireland at College Green.
Clare County Council
The Daniel O’Connell Commemoration is a programme of events planned to mark the anniversary but also highlight the Clare connection as O’Connell was elected as an MP for the county in 1828 and again in 1830. Events include lectures, talks, art, walking tours, a digitisation project, exhibitions and a documentary screening. This will take place from 08-10 August in Ennis and is organised by a local committee consisting of the Mayor of Ennis, Mayor of Clare other members of the Local Authority, local historians and O’Connell Historians. The Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Concert is produced by Diarmuid de Faoite and will take place in Ennis on Saturday, 09 August, in conjunction with Clare Arts Office.
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