191 years ago today on 15 May 1829- Daniel O’Connell aka The Great Liberator, presented himself at the bar of the House of Commons, but was asked to withdraw for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy which required any person taking public or church office to swear allegiance to 
the monarch as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Failure to do so was to be treated as treasonable.
A lawyer, he had realised that as a Catholic, while he would be forbidden to take a seat in Parliament, there was no law preventing him running for election and he did so
A lawyer, he had realised that as a Catholic, while he would be forbidden to take a seat in Parliament, there was no law preventing him running for election and he did so
successfully in 1828. He used the election result to pressurise the British Government to pass the Catholic Emancipation Act 1829.
18 years later on 15 May 1847 he died in Genoa Italy. His heart was buried in Rome and his body returned to Dublin and buried in Glasnevin.
18 years later on 15 May 1847 he died in Genoa Italy. His heart was buried in Rome and his body returned to Dublin and buried in Glasnevin.
