This column has already met John Manning, who in his early nineties, lives in Innislinga, Dripsey. John wrote to me again recently with the article below on the story of Daniel O'Connell and his connections to the Lee Valley. "In my working days, I [John Manning] was a painter and decorator. One time when doing some paintwork in preparation for the Stations for John Burke's mother at Faha, Dripsey overlooking Inniscarra Reservoir, the good lady (since deceased) mentioned casually one day that she often heard her granny say that Daniel O'Connell stayed in the house many years ago.

That's as far as it went, until I got the gist of the matter in Canon Sheehan's Glenanaar.

How did it come about that Daniel O'Connell stayed overnight in Faha House, one hundred and seventy years ago in the year 1839. It happened because of an incident that occurred in North Cork, which became known as the Doneraile Conspiracy. At that time, in our history, there was much trouble and much unrest between landlords and their tenants. The rents were being constantly increased and for those who could not pay, eviction was the outcome. The landlords did not collect the rents themselves but employed agents to do so. One of those agents was attacked and beaten up by a number of men in the district. The authorities offered a big reward to anybody who gave information, as to who the culprits were. In order to gain the award, a certain individual named Daly gave in the names of four innocent men. They were duly arrested and brought to Cork Prison, which at that time was on Western Road, and which is now part of the University complex. Later they were taken to Cork Courthouse in Washington Street and brought before a Judge Pennyfather who found them guilty and were to be executed on Monday morning at 11 O'clock.

It was now 6 o'clock on Saturday evening in the month of November. There was only one man, who could potentially save them, and he was Daniel o'Connell, who lived in Derrynane in West Kerry, ninety miles away. Those days there were no cars or no telephones, so how was he to be contacted? The friends and neighbours of the accused men had come from Doneraile to give support and encouragement. One chap named William Burke, aged eighteen years, came forward and said, he would ride to Derrynane, if he was given a horse. His own brother John was one of the accused. One owner said " I have an animal there, who will take you to Macroom, where you may find a better horse to take you on your journey". At that time, the main road from Cork to Macroom was via the Lee Road, Dripsey and Coachford, the Straight Road was not, as yet, constructed.

William left Cork at six o'clock as the Angelus bells were ringing and he reached Macroom at 8 o'clock but low and behold, there was no horse available at Williams, they were all up at Assizes in Cork. The assizes refers to a court's periodic sessions were never held at a fixed location. The chap was left with no choice but to carry on, with the horse he had, and what a horse, to gallop all the way, on a dark cold wet November night. William, being from North Cork, had no knowledge whatsoever, of the country that lay ahead of him, it was difficult enough, to negotiate it, in the daytime, let alone doing it on a moonless night. He must have gotten very good directions, for he arrived safely in Derrynane at 9 o'clock on Sunday mornings. His guardian angel and divine providence must have been with him all the way. The Sunday mass was just celebrated for, apparently, O'Connell, had his own private oratory, and resident chaplain. He was made welcome, given a meal, and arrangements were made for him to stay overnight. His horse, which was in a 'coat' of suds and foam, was foddered and watered. O'Connell, who was now in his sixty-fourth year, tacked up his pony and 'covered car'. His intention was to cover as many miles as possible in the daylight hours of that November day and completed the journey on the morrow. If he could reach the halfway mark, it would get to a point halfway between Kenmare and Kilgarvan he would still have a heck of a long way to go. William, the rider on horseback, eventually caught up with O'Connell, who was moving along quickly.

William overtook and pushed on ahead to Cork with the glad news, "he'll be here in an hour". It was well into the afternoon, before O'Connell arrived. People were anxiously waiting and when at last, he was seen coming in the Western Road, there were shouts of "he's coming". It would appear that wherever O'Connell had stayed overnight, he overslept in the morning, and there was no time to take breakfast. On arriving at the court, O'Connell demanded something to eat. There and then Judge Pennyfather, to give him his due, granted him his wish. The Court proceedings went on regardless and O'Connell, between swallowing his food made his points. In whatever phraseology or terminology he used, he bamboozled Pennyfather and the four men were acquitted, which was something that will be forever to his credit to his credit. Late evening or night had now fallen and it was when Daniel O'Connell was on his way home, he reached the two storey Healy farmhouse in Faha, Dripsey, which was practically on the roadside. There he was given a hearty welcome and accommodation for himself and his pony. The story goes that he tossed half a crown to a child when leaving next day. The Healy family were forebears of the present owners John and Mary Burke and their family at Faha House".

To be continued...
My sincere thanks to John Manning for his insights

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