This Day's Mail. Death of O'Connell

Galway Vindicator and Connacht Advertiser, 26th May, 1847

(From the Freeman)

With feelings of profound grief we have to announce the death of THE GREAT CHIEFTAIN — an event that will fill not Ireland alone with sorrow, but will send a shock throughout the civilised world, and mark an epoch in the history of mankind. For this crushing event the physicians and friends of The Mighty Dead were better prepared than was his country. With anxious solicitude they watched the progress of his malady, and in some degree expected the melancholy catastrophe ; but the country could not bring itself to believe that He who made our millions free, and for half a century led them on from triumph to triumph was about to be numbered with the dead, and to pass to the cold and silent grave ere he had accomplished the great object of his ambition, the final liberation of the land of his love and of his labours. But, alas ! the painful truth must come home to the country — our O'Connell is, indeed, no more. His magic voice will never again be heard on earth, and there remains to us now of our Mighty Champion nothing save his imperishable deeds — his fame, and his glory.

Since the day on which THE LIBERATOR left Ireland the disease, of which the germs had long lain within him, gradually developed itself, and, though fallacious glimpses of returning health shone out occasionally, and inspired, by their temporary effects, some hopes of convalescence and of the final restoration of the great man to his people and to the scenes of his glory, the hope was delusive — the recuperative principle was dead in him forever. The shadow of death followed on his track from the day he quitted our shores. Human power was unable to reverse the unalterable decrees of Providence, and the Great Champion of our liberties yielded up his mighty spirit to HIM who created it. On Saturday, the 15th of May, at thirty seven minutes after nine at night, the mortal career of THE GREAT LIBERATOR ended. He had run his race ; and who will deny its brilliancy of its benefits, not alone to Ireland, but to all of human kind?

He breathed his last in a foreign land ! The peaceful murmurs of the Adriatic sung his dirge and requiem, but his body will come among us, as his spirit never ceased to be, and will abide with us forever.

With that deference to public feeling which has ever characterised them the family of The Liberator, at no small sacrifice of their private feelings, have consented to place in our hands for publication documents of the most solemn character — the private letters received this day, announcing to them the irreparable loss they have sustained.

It will be some consolation to his bereaved people to be assured thus early, that the ashes of their faithful Champion will repose in Irish soil : — and but for the science and skill of the musicians it must have had much soon or one still more afflicting. I will see.