Penny ‘Boyle O’Reilly’ returns to her roots
DROGHEDA’S historic links to John Boyle O’Reilly were relived in person last week when his great-granddaughter came to visit her descendant’s homeland.
Penelope Agnes Boyle O’Reilly Hocking said she was overwhelmed by the reaction to her visit and appreciated her direct link to the great local man even more.
‘My father was his grandson as John Boyle O’Reilly had four daughters but only one married,’ Penelope (Penny) stated.
Resident in British Colombia, she admits that it was only as she grew older that her interest in the Dowth born Fenian grew.
He was a poet, journalist, author and activist, found guilty of being a Feninan, transported to Western Australia 150 years ago and after escaping, went to Amercia where he became a spokesperson for the Irish community through his editorship of the Boston newspaper The Pilot.
‘It took a while for me to realise he had a reputation beyond the family.
‘My grandfather built a library in the 1920s on his farm in New Hampshire and I used to look around it and found letters, including his wife’s will.’
She visited his house in Boston and was inspired by Sean Tyrell’s story of O’Reilly’s work to come to Drogheda.
‘I was here as a 15 year old with my father, but didn’t take much in.
‘It has been great meeting everybody and Brendan Matthews gave me so much information.’
Jenny met members of the Old Drogheda Society and the Slane Historical group as well as visiting the sites such as the former Argus office and the estate on the northside named in his honour.
She also went to Netterville House at Dowth and got to see the room where Boyle O’Reilly was born.
She also visited the nearby graveyard and monument.
She was also going to Glasnevin to visit the graves of O’Reilly’s parents.
‘I wanted to learn more about him and I have on this trip. He was amazing and did so much.’