IRISH-AMERICAN-L Archives

From: Pat Connors <>
Subject: [Irish-American] Aug. 1, 1915, the funeral of Fenian Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 05:03:42 +0100

more thanks from George of the Irish Heritage newsletter

On Aug. 1, 1915, the funeral of Fenian Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa was held
before a huge crowd at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. Rossa's body had
been returned from New York where he died June 30. He had been exiled by
the British for his Fenian activities in 1871. While in exile, Rossa had
managed to alienate many of his former Fenian colleagues, including his
good friend John Devoy, with his uncompromising advocacy of violence to
end British rule in Ireland. Perhaps his attitude was due in part to the
harsh treatment he received in British prisons as well as scenes he
witnessed while helping to distribute relief in his native County Cork
during the Great Hunger. In the late 1870s, he organized the
'Skirmishing Fund,' which financed the infamous dynamite campaign in
England. When he died in New York on June 30, 1915, he was estranged
from most in the Irish republican movement, but his funeral would be one
of the seminal events in the revival of the movement in Ireland. Patrick
Pearse gave an address at the graveside that day which has resounded
with republicans down through the years; the final words of his oration
provided them with one of their most enduring slogans: "Ireland unfree
will never be at peace." [note: Interestingly, the world slogan derives
from the Gaelic sluagh ghairm, or army cry, according to The Random
House Dictionary.]

To view the photo from this article. Go to the Irish Heritage homepage at
http://hometown.aol.com/steeler059/ Click on the Shamrock Lady, Titled
NEXT.

--
Pat Connors, Sacramento CA
Professional Genealogy Researcher
http://www.connorsgenealogy.com
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• [Irish-American] Aug. 1, 1915, the funeral of Fenian Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa by Pat Connors <>