Daniel O'Connell

Daniel O'Connell - 'The Liberator' - lived a big, great and graphic life. Born in Kerry in 1775, he witnessed some of the most pivotal events in European history: the Penal Laws, the French Revolution, the 1798 Rebellion and the Great Famine. In his struggle for Catholic emancipation, O'Connell achieved the first and most important step towards Irish freedom. He stormed into the House of Commons against the wishes of the Government and the King, smashing down the door that had denied Catholics a place in Parliament. One of the greatest legal men in Europe, he put fear into opponents, judges and the British establishment alike. He shot and killed a man in a deadly duel, fought against slavery and spent time in jail. He also struggled with his weight and his debts, and was sometimes very vain. With lively text and striking illustrations, this book brings Daniel O'Connell and his world to life.

Jody Moylan is a writer from the west of Ireland. For Jody, the book began with a visit to Dan's birthplace in southwest Kerry, and ended with a trip to Rome to seek out the Liberator's buried heart. He has written for all the national daily newspapers, including the Irish Independent and The Irish Times. Mateusz Nowakowski is a Polish artist based in Dublin and Warsaw. He has a degree in Visual Arts Practice from IADT and now practises illustration, drawing and printmaking.