Talk on Daniel O’Connell and Human Rights
While Professor Nowlan has written and lectured extensively on O’Connell, he was unaware of certain aspects of his life until coming to Eglish.
Wolsey Knox, introducing him, said that in the course of his researches he had learned that O’Connell had been recorded as having drunk a toast (with a full glass of Boyne water) to ‘the immortal memory of William 111’. Wolsley also discovered that he had been a major contributor, around 1845, to the re-building of Badoney Presbyterian Church near Gortin.
To commemorate this event Rev. John Batchelor, retired rector of Eglish and Killylea parishes, presented Professor Nowlan with a communion token from Badoney which would have been in use in the church there around the time of the rebuilding. Such tokens were frequently hand-made by church members: this one was made from lead and stamped ‘B’. Replying to the presentation ‘Kevin B’ said he was delighted to receive the token and photograph of the 1845 church. It was further a further indication to him of O’Connell’s concern for all sections of society.
During his lecture, Professor Nowlan spoke of Daniel O’Connell’s family background. He had an abhorrence of political violence, which arose after seeing the outcome of the French Revolution and came to believe that liberty should be achieved by other means. During his political career he worked for the restoration of the Irish Parliament, for votes for all, religious freedom and the right to free assembly. He was an early campaigner against slavery and refused to take subscriptions from any slave owner. He collaborated with others of liberal views in Britain, France and Italy and was one of the first Irishmen to acquire a reputation in Europe as a political leader.
Rose Mary Logue, Secretary of Eglish Historical Society, thanked Professor Nowlan for coming to Eglish and for delivering a fascinating lecture. Brendan McAnallen, Chairman of the Society, reviewed what had been a very successful year, which saw the delivery of the Heritage Lottery Funded project ‘Eglish through the Ages’ which also helped with the publication of The Book of Eglish and the establishment of the Eglish Historical Trail. He looked forward to meeting again in 2013 and extended a warm welcome to anyone who wished to become involved in the Society’s activities.
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Weather for Dungannon
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 12 C
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