Daniel O'Connell's Chariot 1844

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Object No. 78 Daniel O'Connell's 'chariot', 1844

Derrynane House,Caherdaniel Co Kerry

Daniel O’Connell’s Chariot 1844

The Long Journey To Freedom

The King of the Beggars?

Well, it beggars belief.

The old man trudged home

On his own two feet.

He was summoned to prison

The very next day,

To make his way through Dublin

In his own parade.

The chariot amazed,

With blue wool and silk,

Adorned with gold mouldings,

A fabulous sight.

The Liberator himself,

Three metres high.

Six grey horses

Drew the chariot so grand.

From his gilded throne O’Connell looked down,

And waved at the thousands ,

As they shouted and cheered, calling his name.

Free from his prison,

This was his day,

He longed to go homewards,

But the throne was where he stayed.

The journey is a long one,

But now it’s begun,

People need heroes

And now we have one.

His chariot a symbol of Hope

And of freedoms to come.