Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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526. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the major commemorations being organised in County Kerry, especially in Cahersiveen to mark 250 years since the birth of Daniel O'Connell (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38941/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Daniel O'Connell was born near Cahersiveen, County Kerry on the 06 August 1775. To mark the 250th anniversary of his birth a full commemorative programme of events has been developed by my department in collaboration with the Department of the Taoiseach, the OPW, Kerry County Council and other stakeholders including the local community.

This programme will create opportunities for renewed recognition and remembrance of one of Ireland's key political figures, whose career and legacy not only shaped modern Ireland but impacted the wider world. This will be through the four pillars of commemorations - State-led events, historical exploration, creative and artistic expression and community-led commemorations.

Full details of all the national and international events in the Commemorative Programme were shared in a Memo for Information with the Government on Tuesday, 08 July 2025.

The following are events that are specifically taking place in Kerry.

State-led Commemorative Event Wednesday, 06 August 2025

The primary event will be a State-led commemorative event in Derrynane House on Wednesday, 06 August, in partnership with the OPW. Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, T.D. will deliver the keynote address and there will be a strong cultural and community element including involvement by O'Connell’s Descendants. This event will be televised over the RTÉ News Channel and will be made available worldwide through the RTÉ player.

O’Connell 250 Celebrations Wednesday, 06 August 2025

Community-led commemoration has a key role in remembering events, personalities, and legacies. This sees a collaborative approach to commemorations between the State, Local Authorities and local community groups.

The O’Connell 250 committee in Cahersiveen is being supported by the Department and Kerry County Council to deliver a full programme of events. This includes plaque unveilings, a civic reception, a Monster Meeting and music and sporting events.

Daniel O’Connell Summer School, Friday-Saturday, 29-30 August 2025.

The Department is supporting the 15th year of the Daniel O’Connell Summer School which is run by Professor Muiris Bric.

This significant year the school will take place in two locations - Cahersiveen and Derrynane House and will include speakers from universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. As part of the programme, Taoiseach Mícheál Martin will give the O’Connell Lecture in the Drawing Room in Derrynane House.

Programme of Local Authority Events - Commemorations Community Grants

Through my Department’s Local Authority Community Grants scheme a number of counties with a connection to Daniel O’Connell have incorporated related initiatives into their 2025 Programmes.

Kerry County Council are supporting Liberation! The Music of Daniel O’Connell at the Abbey of the Holy Cross on 6 August. This an O’Connell-themed open-air concert at the Abbey of the Holy Cross in Cahersiveen with international opera singers and Kerry natives Dr Gavan and Nicola Ring accompanied by piano-cello Fiachra Garvey and Gerald Peregrine. The Local Authority will support the O’Connell 250 Committee with their community grant funding to deliver this initiative.

Kerry County Council is also proposing to upgrade the Daniel O’Connell Exhibition at Cahersiveen Library in advance of the State event. The upgrade works include conservation of the gifted exhibition that was formerly housed in the Bank of Ireland in Dublin's College Green.

We hope that this Commemorative Programme will be a fitting tribute to one of Ireland's greatest politicians and Civil Rights advocates.