This article is from page 10 of the 2012-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
MOVES are being made at Ennis Town Council level to mark the historic 1828 election of Daniel O’Connell in Clare by staging an annual event in honour of the ‘Liberator’ in the county capital.
The cause of O’Connell in Clare, which has been championed by a number of local historians in the county, will be taken to the floor of Ennis Town Council this week, with a motion being tabled by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) expected to receive the unanimous backing of the ninemember local authority.
O’Connell was elected as a Member of Parliament for Ennis on July 5, 1828. Having been proposed as a candidate by The O’Gorman Mahon and seconded by Tom Steele, he beat Vesey Fitzgerald in the election.
It was this victory that sparked the granting of Catholic Emancipation the following year, while Cllr Flynn’s motion to honour one of the most famous campaigns in Clare electoral history is being timed to coincide with the 185th anniversary of the election in 2013.
“We want O’Connell recognised in Clare by having a special day annually in his honour,” said local historian Declan Barron. “By having a Daniel O’Connell Day in Ennis and having that day set as July 5 every year, a whole new industry and interest can be cultivated.
“Daniel O’Connell’s election wasn’t only a turning point in Irish history, but it was a turning point in world history. That’s because it was the world’s first democratic revolution. Are we just the fighting Irish, who remember patriots because they were involved in wars or were killed?
“It is the first time that democracy was used to rebel against the status quo and the ruling powers. It was on July 5 that he was elected and it should probably be called Democracy Day, after Independence Day the day before. 2013 would be an ideal year to start this, on the 185th anniversary but also because it could become part of the ‘Gathering’ project,” added Mr Barron.