State urged to declare memorial day for O’Connell

An eminent historian has called on the State to declare a Daniel O’Connell national memorial day to honour “the father of Irish democracy”.

Professor John A Murphy, Emeritus Professor at University College Cork, issued the call last night ahead of the Daniel O’Connell Heritage Summer School, which begins in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, today.

Prof Murphy, who will chair a panel discussion as part of the school today, said ‘official Ireland’ has never adequately recognised its debt to O’Connell.