Description:
Irish medal, 1875
Diameter 42mm
Medal struck to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Daniel O'Connell, nationalist leader in Ireland. The obverse features the bust of O'Connell and the reverse features a shamrock with inscriptions on each leaf and a harp and crown in the centre. The harp divides the date and 'O'CONNELL CENTENARY' is written below. The first leaf on the left bears the inscription 'BORN AUG 6th 1775/ CLARE/ ELECTION/ 1828/ EMANCIPATION/ 1830', this refers to O'Connell's election as MP for County Clare and his involvement in the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, which led to Catholic Emancipation. After the emancipation, Roman Catholics could become Members of Parliament and O'Connell was able to take his seat in the House of Commons. The top leaf bears the inscription 'MY HEART TO ROME/ MY BODY/ TO IRELAND/ MY SOUL TO/ HEAVEN'. The third leaf bears the inscription 'DIED MAY 15th 1847/ THE/ REPEAL/ ASSOCIATION/ FOUNDED/ 1840', this refers to the Association set up by O'Connell against the Act of Union (1800) which had merged the Parliaments of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland.