Daniel O’Connell Anniversary Missing Heart Mystery
The Lost Heart of Daniel O’connell: A Century-Old Mystery in Rome
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For nearly a century, a captivating mystery has lingered within the walls of Rome: what became of the heart of Daniel O’Connell, the revered Irish political leader known as “The Liberator”? Embalmed after his death in 1847, the heart was believed to be interred in the Irish College in Rome, a testament to O’connell’s deep faith and the strong ties between Ireland and the Catholic Church. But when the college relocated in 1927, the urn containing his heart vanished, sparking a search that continues to this day.
A Symbol of Irish Nationalism
Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847) was a towering figure in 19th-century Ireland. A brilliant orator and a tireless advocate for Catholic emancipation, he spearheaded a campaign that ultimately led to Catholics being able to sit in the British parliament. His commitment to peaceful, constitutional reform earned him the title “The Liberator” and cemented his place as a national hero.
Upon his death in Genoa, Italy, O’connell’s body was brought to Ireland for burial in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. However, his heart was removed and sent to Rome, a city he deeply admired and where he had spent considerable time during his political career. It was placed in an urn and stored behind a marble plaque in the church of the Irish College, a historic institution dedicated to educating Irish priests. This act symbolized O’Connell’s devotion to his faith and his enduring connection to the European continent.
The Disappearance and Competing Theories
the Irish College served as a spiritual home for Irish exiles and a center for Irish Catholic life in Rome for centuries. But in 1927, the college moved to a new location, and with it, a piece of Irish history disappeared.The urn containing O’connell’s heart was nowhere to be found.
Where did it go? Two primary theories have emerged over the decades:
The Cemetery Theory: One possibility is that the heart was inadvertently swept up with other remains during renovations at the Bank of Italy, which expanded into the church’s crypt. these remains were then reinterred at the Campo Verano cemetery, Rome’s largest public cemetery. This scenario, while unsettling, suggests the heart remains in Rome, albeit in an unmarked grave.
The Theft theory: The other, more dramatic theory posits that the heart was transferred to a silver casket, which was subsequently stolen. The Irish college possessed valuable artifacts, making it a potential target for thieves.This theory paints a picture of a deliberate act, a loss compounded by the sacrilege of stealing a national symbol.
A Historian’s Perspective and Ongoing Hope
Historian John Crotty, speaking to RTÉ, expressed the tragedy of the potential loss. “What a tragedy to think that the heart of O’Connell could have been swept up and taken and stolen,” he said. Though, he also offered a glimmer of hope. “But that is the worst-case scenario. The distinct hope has to be that it was swept up in the Campo Verano move, or that it does remain underneath the chapel of the Goths still to this day.”
The search for O’Connell’s heart continues, fueled by a desire to honor his legacy and resolve a mystery that has captivated historians and Irish nationalists alike. The possibility that it lies forgotten in Campo Verano, or perhaps hidden within the walls of the old Irish College, keeps the hope alive.
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