Daniel and Patrick Cahill

Dr. Daniel Cahill, D.D.

By Patrick F. Meehan
Extracted from: Laois Yearbook 1983

Dr. Daniel William Cahill was born in Arles, County Laois in 1796. Educated and ordained in Maynooth, he became a professor at Carlow collage. He was one of the best known lecturers in Ireland in his day and was the author of many pamphlets. He went to Boston where he became one of the most sought after preachers and he died in Boston on October 27th, 1864.

Some of Dr. Cahill's pupils in Carlow were the Laois brothers of Tinakill, James Fintan, Richard (later M.P. for Leix division of Queen's County) and Sir Peter Lalor, M.P. Speaker of the Victoria Parliament, Australia.

Mr. Patrick Cahill

Patrick Cahill was born in Arles and was a nephew of Dr. Daniel Cahill. Educated at Carlow college. He had intended to study for the Bar. When he was only fourteen years of age he carried off with the honours of the University of London but was disqualified because he was under age. He later qualified as an L.L.B. (Bachelor of Law) from the same university. Mr. Cahill entered Irish politics at an early age and became one of the leading lights in the Nationalist movements.

He was one of the founders of the Queen's Independent club, an organisation founded to promote Home Rule, and became its secretary. The club exercised a potent sway in the affairs of the county and of Ireland, and it's voice on the leading questions of the day always commanded respect, and many of the principles of his constitutional movement passed into law before the turn of the century. All over the then Queen's County Mr. Cahill helped to establish branches of the Land League and later National League. For these activities he was imprisoned in Kilkenny jail.

Later he founded The Leinster Leader newspaper which is still published in Naas, County Kildare. His brother, the very Rev. Thomas Cahill, S.J., became president of the Jesuit College in Melbourne, Australia.

Mr. Cahill on a number of occasions refused to contest the elections to parliament as a candidate for his native county in the Home Rule interest. Mr. Cahill died in May,1883 and a magnificent monument was raised to his memory by the people of his native county and Kildare.

Back to List

Site Hosted by Dotser

A-Z of Laois - About Laois - Community History - Famous People - Photographs - Maps - 19th Century Laois