Born in Ireland raised in Old Town , shipped 4527 miles & 400 years young Called After Irelands Great patriot Daniel O’Connell “ The liberator ” Sink into our comfortable surroundings in our truly unique Atmosphere. View our mesmerizing array of Irish Historical Antiques. Stroll through 4 Ancient Irish Bars with blazing fires. Enjoy warm friendly Irish Staff & meet the lovely people of Old Town. Balconies, Snug Corners, Nooks & Crannies every corner has a story to tell. All this, while taste the bold exciting culinary delights that have emerged from modern Ireland.

“Great Food , fine Drinks, Good times & Old Friends”

“We see King street as a unique place in many many ways , it has a unique historical past and a pace of life . Although part of the most important and dynamic metro areas in god’s green earth , this is where the north meets the south , the pace of life here is a breath of fresh air , a solace and a comfort to all . It’s beautiful colonial streets and its beautiful courteous people create an atmosphere that makes King Street special, what it is today. We could not think of a better place to create an Antique Irish restaurant incorporating modern fusion of Irish cuisine and all that’s best about Irish Culture . And when we called it after the Great liberator himself Daniel O’Connell , well it was an ideal fit. We are proud to say on the end of King Street O’Connell’s is now part of the furniture, sure wasn’t Daniel O’Connell himself

“The Uncrowned King of Ireland”.

About

Our Story

“From Ireland to here took 4 hundred Years “

Our magnificent building with all its beautiful Irish antiques are jointly owned by Irish Born entrepreneurs John Brennan & Billy O’Sullivan. Both from the opposite side of the banks of the picturesque meandering River Suir that divides the historic counties of Waterford and Killkenny. John being a native Mooncoin man from an area steeped in the Killkenny tradition and Billy a Ballygunner man & Waterford Hurler from Irelands Oldest Historical City . Both great friends went their own separate ways when in the 80’s john went walkabout in the Aussie Out Back welding and laying gas’s lines his game eventually returning to his home sod where he became a successful Pub owner . While Billy went building and designing hundreds of Irish bars all-round the world , his first 30 in France without having a French note in his head . If someone told them back then they would end up owning an Irish restaurant in King street Alexandria there first reaction would have been a bemused where? And what street? However from the first time they stepped onto old towns historic street they knew they had stumbled on something truly special and a home away from home.

As Billy says “ O’Connell’s is without question one of the most Unique antique Irish Bars anywhere in the world . An ancient Irish setting run as a modern Irish bar. Just walk in our door , this Dublin , this Waterford , this is Killkenny or Galway , this Ireland right in the heart of King street .

John & Billy

The building itself was built in the 1800’s by Col. Fitzgerald from Co. Wicklow. In the 1970’s a restaurant called Bull Features Bar opened at the back section of the building and the front a quaint hat Shop called Hats in the Belfry . Until one day Billy & John walked by and had a vision. They purchased both sections in June 2004. “It was a challenging building from the start with its many twists and turns , but sometimes these obstacles guides you in a direction that allows you create a beautiful eclectic feel and with the vast array of antiques we had in storage O’Connell’s became a labor of love and captivated everybody who worked on the project “.Shipping everything from Waterford in November of that year , we emptied out the Countless Precious antiques that were held in storage for over twenty years for that one special project we believed would inevitably come our way . A major construction Job ensued to bring the building up to code . While back in Waterford Ireland the antiques were painstakingly cleaned and restored with the 1st container eventually arriving in the 1st week in November 2004 . 14 Master carpenters, 2 master stonemasons and 2 antique tillers , 2 specialist painters and 3 months later O’Connell’s was born to the magnificent Restaurant we appreciate today.

Daniel O’Connell “ The Liberator “ 1775-1847

Daniel O’Connell was born near Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry, on 6 August 1775. His wealthy childless uncle adopted him at an early age and brought him up in the beautiful Derrynane . He spoke Irish and enjoyed the traditional culture of song and story of west Kerry . In 1791 he was sent to school in France at St. Omer and Douai where he witnessed firsthand the horrors of the French Revolution . This had an undeniable effect on the young student and left him with a life-long hatred of violence. He read law at Lincoln’s Inn (1794 -96) continuing his studies in Dublin where he was called to bar in 1798. The 1798 rebellion and the terrible butchery that followed further confirmed his horror of violence and his passion for political gain by peaceful means . He soon built up a Famous practice and became renowned for his eloquence and wit in the successful defense of the poor and oppressed . He single handedly lead the call for peaceful reform in Ireland and became the champion for Catholic Emancipation and civil rights . In 1815 O’Connell criticized harshly the Dublin corporation and was challenged to a duel by one member D’Esterre. In the exchange of shots D’Esterre was shot only in the leg only but the injury sustained eventually killed him. O’Connell much in despair and full of remorse eternally wore a black glove on his left hand as a reminder to him “never again”

However O’Connell was soon drawn into political action abiding firmly behind his Principles . In 1823, O’Connell founded the Catholic Association who’s aim to use all the legal means available to secure emancipation quickly took light and turned into a mass crusade with the support of the Catholic clergy.

The Clare election in 1828 was a turning point. O’Connell managed a huge victory against the government candidate. The polling took place in Ennis County Clare at the old courthouse where the O’Connell monument now stands. At the final count, O’Connell was elected by a majority of eleven hundred votes. The British ascendancy party suffered its first big knock since the 1798.

From this historic victory the whole country became aflame in a crescendo of Patriotic will and belief that finally some sediments of civil rights may be gained for the poor and oppressed catholic people of Ireland . Even though O’Connell was against any form of violence he had such influence over the population that the British Government feared a rising , so much so that they granted Catholic emancipation in April 1829. It is to O’Connell’s eternal credit that he was the first of his kind in that he never chose to divert from his principle of none violence.

It was at the British King’s insistence, O’Connell was not allowed to take his seat in parliament and had to be re-elected for Clare in 1830 but in February of that year through overwhelming popular demand Daniel O’Connell became the first Catholic in modern history to sit in the British House of Commons. It was at this time O’Connell became known as “the Liberator” and was given the title as Irelands Uncrowned King.

During his parliamentary time O’Connell became he champion of many causes and was one of the main instigator’s and agitators and a champion for the abolition of slavery .

For the rest of his life O’Connell gave up his practice at the bar to devote his time entirely to politics,. O’Connell now decided to concentrate on winning repeal of the act of union and getting an Irish parliament for the Irish people. British political leaders feared repeal as the first step in the break-up of the act of union .In 1841, O’Connell was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin and in 1843. He began to organize monster meetings throughout the country. It is thought that three-quarters of a million people gathered on the hill of Tara to hear the man they called the “Liberator”. The government became alarmed at the strength of the Repeal Movement and a meeting which O’Connell had planned for 8 October 1843 in Clontarf, Dublin was banned. Huge crowds were already on their way when O’Connell called off the meeting to avoid the risk of violence and bloodshed.

He was then charged with conspiracy, arrested and sentenced to a year in jail and a fine of 2,000 pounds. By popular demand the sentence was set aside after O’Connell had been three months in prison. When he was released he a special chariot was made and he was paraded through the streets of Dublin to an audience of over a million elated supporters . He continued his campaign for repeal. However, a turning point had been reached. The tactics that had won emancipation had failing and O’Connell was now almost seventy, with his health failing he had no clear plan for future action. The more militant Young Irelander’s withdrew splitting the movement .

Then came an unmitigated disaster that changed the shape of Irelands History for every with the failure of the potato crop in the 1840′s, and the Great Famine that ensued. O’Connell his days now number lobbied tirelessly to avert the impending hunger and starvation. With his health failing and broken hearted O’Connell left Ireland for the last time in January 1847. He made his last Historic and touching speech in the House of Commons in which he appealed for aid for his country. In March of that year , acting on the advice of his doctor and his wish to Die in Rome, he set sail for Italy. It is said he never made it eventually passing in Genoa on 15 May 1847, his body was returned to Ireland and buried in Glasnevin Cemetery however it is was rumored from historically references that his broken Heart in fact continued on the journey and was buried in Rome in 1847

Daniel O’Connell was a remarkable man and recognized by many as Ireland Greatest patriot . As time stands still for no man if O’Connell could have lived for longer what effect would his eloquence, wit , patriotism and principles have had on the course of History . During his time he earned the unanimous respect of Friend and Foe . He was the first of his time and a historical inspiration to people such as Mahatma ma Gandhi & Martin Luther King . But O’Connell was the first and the achievements of his Political gain by peaceful means gained more for the oppressed people of Ireland than 200 years of Rebellion. A testament to the manner of his respect is that Irelands 1st Street is named after him adorned by a magnificent statue that although 69 years later when the center of Dublin was demolished by the battle in the 1916 rising , not a bullet mark or a piece shrapnel so much as scratched the great man’s monument . Both Irish and British forces cultured there aim to make sure the man of Peace was not harmed. They say in Ireland that when we were looking for a nation “ O’Connell gave us our soul ” .

Daniel O’Connell had a loving marriage to , Mary O’Connell, their marriage was happy and eleven children were born to them, though only seven survived (four sons and three daughters).
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam”

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