Clare County Council has announced details of the Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Programme to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth on August 9 and 10, 2025.
This significant anniversary will be acknowledged and remembered in a number of dedicated events in Ennis, as part of a national celebration of “The Liberator’s” birth.
As well as commemorating the Liberator’s birth date, Clare County Council will join with the local community to celebrate his close ties with the county through a series of lectures, talks and displays, including lectures by Patrick Geoghegan of Newstalk’s “Talking History” and Maurice Bric.
Among the highlights if the weekend is a specially commissioned show produced and directed by Diarmuid de Faoite entitled “O’Connell, the Liberator”.
This vibrant, dramatic and musical event depicting O’Connell’s life will take place in glór on Saturday, August 9, with musical direction by Geraldine Cotter, and will feature a host of outstanding performers from County Clare and beyond.
Paying tribute to the local community as well as council staff in the Ennis MD, Clare Libraries, Clare Museum and Clare Arts Office for their work in organising the commemoration, Clare County Council Senior Engineer, Sean Lenihan said it was important to recognise the important role Daniel O’Connell played in Clare’s history as well as nationally and internationally.
“This internationally recognised Irish man was elected MP for Clare in 1828, and has been synonymous with the county ever since. It is important we recognise him here in Clare as part of the national celebration of his birth. The events in Ennis will ensure every generation has the opportunity to get involved – from the children saving their thoughts into a time capsule, to our historians sharing their findings in insightful documentaries and our artists celebrating his legacy with a one-off celebration in glór,” he said.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Ennis schoolchildren will bury a time capsule in O’Connell Square, which is scheduled to be dug up in 50 years’ time.
The burying of the capsule will be part of a special ceremony at O’Connell Monument in Ennis including a wreath laying by Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr Paul Murphy and Mayor of Ennis Cllr Mary Howard.
From Wednesday August 6 until August 20 exhibitions of O’Connell memorabilia from the Newpark House Collection will be on display at the Clare Museum Ennis and the De Valera Library Ennis, alongside memorabilia held by the Clare Museum.
Full details of all events can be found here.
The Clare events are supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.