Religious freedom was hard won by those who preceded us, now let us respect all

SIR,

Daniel O’Connell, The Liberator and noble son of Kerry, spent a lifetime campaigning for Catholic emancipation and repeal of the Act of Union. Catholic emancipation in 1829 ended many of the restrictions on Irish Catholics under the British penal laws.

Once Catholic emancipation was achieved, O’Connell campaigned for repeal of the 1801 Act of Union, which had merged the Irish and British Parliaments at Westminster. O’Connell sought an independent self-governing 32 county Ireland. It would be another 100 years before that aim was partially achieved. In the interim, Irish people continued to be persecuted for their Catholicism and nationalism.

Even though Daniel O’Connell felt that Catholicism and nationalism were two sides of the same coin, he was tolerant of all religions and none. In a High Court case against the Crown for religious tolerance, O’Connell famously said that ‘every religion is good, every religion is true to him who in his good caution and conscience believes it’. O’Connell, like myself, had a live and let live approach to life.

Religious freedom and nationhood were hard won by those who preceded us. I am indebted to those who suffered hardship and death for God and for Ireland. As a practicing Catholic, I have respect for people of all religions and none. All I ask in return is their respect for my right to practice my Catholicism in an all-inclusive Irish Republic. Daniel O’Connell demanded no more and no less than that from the British,

Sincerely,

Billy Ryle

Spa,

Tralee

Daniel O’Connell was tolerant of all religions and none.