Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/422

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O'HA
O'HU

mained in the Peninsula until the conclusion of the war. On his return to Ire- land he took his seat in the House of Lords. He was for some time Commander-in-chief of the army in Ireland. He died 8th June 1 724, aged 84, and was buried in St. Mary's Church, Dublin. [His son James, 2nd Baron Tirawley (born 1690, died 1 774), was created Baron of Kilmaine in 1721, for eminent military services. He attained the rank of General, filled several important diplomatic posts, and was Governor of Minorca.] 52

O'Hara, Kane, a musician, author of several burlettas or comic operas, was born in Ireland early in the 18th century. He attained a foremost position in Dublin, and was elected the Vice-President of the Musical Academy, founded mainly through his exertions in 1758. Next year appeared his burletta of " Midas," written to throw ridicule on Italian operas, and shortly afterwards "Golden Pippin" and other pieces. O'Hara also dabbled in art. He is described as remarkably tall, with the " appearance of an old fop, with spectacles and an antiquated wig ; " yet withal a polite, sensible, agreeable man, the pink of gentility and good breeding, and an amusing companion, although somewhat prosy. He died (probably at his residence in Molesworth-street, Dublin) 17th June 1782, having been totally blind for some time previous. 120 116(45)

O'Hartigan, Kineth, was a distinguished poet and scholar, who died in 975. Several of his pieces are preserved in the Leabhar na h-Uidhre and Book of Leinster. A particular account of his writings will be found in O'Curry's Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Irish History. 134 261

O'Heerin, or O'Huidhrin, Giolla na Naomh, a historian and bard, who died in 1420. His principal work was a topographical poem, intended as a supplemei to O'Dugan's [see O'Dugan, John] itinerary. O'Dugan described the tribes and territories of Leath Cuinn (Meath, Ulster, and Connaught), at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion ; O'Heerin, in a poem of 780 verses, describes those of Leath Mogha (Leinster and Munster). O'Heerin's work commences with the line "Tuille Feasa ar Erinn Oigh"—(An addition of knowledge on sacred Erin). The oldest existing copies of these poems date from the 17th century, and are in the handwriting of Michael and Cucogry O'Clery, two of the Four Masters. John O'Donovan remarks : " The style of the poems is necessarily very stiff, in some instances defective, in others redundant … The orthography is in general that of the 17th century, the age in which the O'Clerys lived ; sometimes, however, they have introduced very ancient forms of spelling … They adhere, however, to no regular rule, but write sometimes the ancient, sometimes modern orthography, in the most capricious manner." These poems were edited for the Irish Archæological and Celtic Society by O'Donovan, elaborately noted, and prefaced with a valuable essay ,on Ancient Irish Names and their modernized forms. 134 264

'O'Hely, Patrick, Bishop of Mayo, was a native of Connaught. Having in his youth entered the order of St. Francis, he proceeded to the Continent, and after a residence in Spain and Italy, was, in July 1576, appointed to the see of Mayo. In returning to Ireland with some clerical associates, he had much difficulty in elud- ing the vigilance of the English cruisers, and landed at Dingle, in Kerry, to be almost immediately an'ested and brought before Sir William Drury, at Kilmallock (August 1578). When questioned, heavow- ed his office and his mission, and declared himself ready, if necessary, to die for his faith. With Father O'Rorke, he was sen- tenced to be put to the torture, and then hanged in the presence of the garrison. We are told that " the two prisoners were first placed on the rack, their arms and feet were beaten with hammers, so that their thigh-bones were broken, and shai'p iron points and needles were cruelly thrust under their nails, which caused an extreme agony of suffering." After this they were hanged, 22nd August 1 5 78, and their bodies were allowed to remain suspended on the gallows for fourteen days. 78 124†

O'Higgins, Ambrose, a native of Ireland, entered the Spanish service, and was in 1787 appointed Captain-General of Chili, and subsequently Viceroy of Peru. While in Chili he made great exertions to promote the prosperity of the country, and several important public works were due to him. [His son, Don Bernardo O'Higgins, born in Chili, and educated in England, took an active and distinguished part on the popular side in the war by which Chili achieved her independence of Spain. He held the office of Supreme Director of the young republic from 18 18 to 1823, when he retired into private life, in consequence of public dissatisfaction with the acts of his ministers.] 78† 124

O'Hurley, Dermot, Archbishop of Cashel, was born near Limerick, about 1519. Educated for the priesthood, he resided at Louvain for fifteen years, and held the chair of Canon Law at Rheims for four years. On the nth September 1581 398