Derrynane House (Irish: "Teach Dhoire Fhionáin") Derrynane House is the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer,
politician and statesman. was the home of Irish politician and statesman, It is now an Irish National Monument and part of a 320-acre National Park
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Daniel O'Connell, the "Liberator" was the catholic lawyer and politician
who negotiated limited Catholic emancipation in 1829. The O'Connells
were an old Irish family (making their fortunes trading -- and
smuggling).Daniel's uncle left him a fortune from the family business,
which left Daniel the wherewithal to go into politics and "do some
good." He had seen the discrimination against Catholics first hand, and
was responsible for repealing many of the rigid laws that targeted
Catholics.
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| Abbey Island |
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| Pan on the fireplace |
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| The carriage used to parade O'Connell after release from prison |
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| The Chapel |
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| The Gardens |
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| Where O'Connell went to write |
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A fairy house
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| Floor of the round tower |
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An old Mass Path
Penal Laws*
"In 1695 harsh penal laws were enforced, known as the 'popery code': Catholics
were prohibited from buying land, bringing their children up as Catholics,
and from entering the forces or the law. Catholics could no longer run for
elected office, purchase land, or own property (such as horses) valued at
more than 5 pounds. In the early years of the 18th century the ruling Protestants
in Ireland passed these laws designed to strip the "backwards" Catholic
population of remaining land, positions of influence and civil rights.
By 1778 Irish Catholics would own a meager 5% of Irish land. Furthermore,
the Catholic educational system was outlawed and priests who did not conform
to the laws could be branded on the face or castrated. As a result, much
of Catholic church services and education and record keeping was forced
underground, to operate only under extreme secrecy. The religion and culture
were kept alive by secret open-air masses and illegal outdoor schools, known
as 'hedge' schools. All Irish culture, music and education was banned. By
the time of the census of 1841 the Irish were impoverished, landless and
leaderless by the eve of the famine.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlker/penallaws.html |
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| Abbey ruins - a cemetary |
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| The resting place of Daniel O'Connell's wife, Mary |
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| Good advice |
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| Lunch at the beach |
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| Wildflowers along the beach path |
