As lovers of the city’s history will be aware, the reformer Daniel O’Connell was the leader of a peaceful mass movement which ultimately led to the achievement of Catholic Emancipation in 1829. O’Connell later served as the first Catholic Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1841-2, and the city’s main thoroughfare, often reputed to be Europe’s widest street, was named after him in 1924.
This year, the achievements of The Liberator are celebrated as the Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival commemorates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell with a number of specially curated events, including a free concert to be held at Goldenbridge Cemetery.
Kicking off on Thursday 8th May, also known as ‘Liberation Day’, Daniel O’Connell scholar Patrick M.Geoghegan will deliver a keynote lecture on ‘Daniel O’Connell and the Campaign for Civil Rights’ at The Hyatt Centric in The Liberties. There will also be a talk and tour by Brian Crowley, the Collections Curator of Kilmainham Gaol Museum, on Daniel O’Connell’s imprisonment in Dublin 8.
The evening of Friday, May 9th sees the historic Tailors Hall open its doors for a special night entitled ‘Liberation at the Back Lane Parliament’. Featuring spoken word, music, art, and performance, the event explores the question, ‘What Liberation Means Today’, and will reflect on the legacy of Daniel O’Connell and explore future visions of liberation.
The thought-provoking event is curated by author and journalist Caelainn Hogan, with contributions from Day Magee, spoken word artist Osaro Azams, poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin, along with Chrissy Donoghue Ward and Tuqa Al-Sarraj.
In another fascinating event on Sunday May 11th, Dubliners are invited to attend a free concert paying homage to Daniel O’Connell’s ‘Monster Meetings’ curated by musician Fiach Moriarty, with re-enactments of the notable speeches made by Daniel O’Connell and the American social reformer, abolitionist, writer, and statesman, Frederick Douglass.
Performed by actors Jim Roche and Peter M. Smith, the concert also features contributions from spoken word artists Roxanna Nic Liam and John Cummins, historian Ultan Moran, as well as musician Sive, renowned pipe and flute player Louise Mulcahy and a performance by the Foley Irish Dancing Academy.
In addition, the Dublin Cemeteries Trust will be also be leading tours of Goldenbridge Cemetery, the first non-denominational cemetery opened by O’Connell in 1828.
The concert takes place at Goldenbridge Cemetery, on the afternoon of Sunday May 11th, from 1-3pm. Admission is free.
The Culture Date with Dublin 8 Festival takes place from Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th May. Many of the events are free but booking is required.
