Sacred Ireland by Jon Michael Riley Ireland1 | Page 38

Erected in 1880, the Daniel O’Connell Monument by
sculptor John Henry Foley, occupies a prominent place
on O’Connell Street. A major landmark referred to by
many writers, including James Joyce. O’Connell (17751847) was known as the Great Liberator because he
fought tirelessly for repeal of the Penal Codes, the antiCatholic system of laws forced on Ireland by the Britih in
the late 17th century.

Doors to Drumcliff Church, County Sligo. Nearby is
W.B. Yeats’ grave. The swans are significant because
they reference the Irish legend of the Children of Lir,
who were turned into swans for 900 years. They also
relate to Yeats’ poems that use the imagery of swans in
one way or another, as in “The Wild Swans at Coole.”

Memorial to Patrick Kavanagh (1906-67), one of
Ireland’s best-known poets. A farmer from County
Monaghan, he adopted Dublin when he decided to write
full time. In his poem “Canal Bank Walk” he wrote,
Leafy-with-love banks and the green waters of the canal /
Pouring redemption for me, that I do / The will of God...

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