Cornelius O'Mahony facts for kids

Cornelius O'Mahony (born 1840 – died March 5, 1879) was an Irish teacher and a strong supporter of Ireland's independence. He was part of a group called the Fenians, who worked to make Ireland a free country. Because of his actions, he was arrested and sent to prison, and later transported far away to Australia.

Growing Up in Ireland

Cornelius O'Mahony was born around 1840 in a place called Macroom in County Cork, Ireland. Later, he moved to Dublin. He grew up during a very tough time in Ireland, known as the Great Famine. Many people faced hunger and sickness. It seems his family had enough money to send him to school, which was not common for everyone back then.

Joining the Fight for Freedom

When Cornelius was about 20, he became a close follower of James Stephens. Stephens was leading a movement to make Ireland independent from British rule. Cornelius joined a secret group called the Irish Republican Brotherhood, or IRB. This group wanted to achieve Irish freedom.

People described Cornelius as a "good and earnest" school teacher. In 1862, he worked as a schoolmaster in Dublin. He used his position to connect other educated young men who also believed in Irish independence with the Fenian cause.

In 1863, Cornelius left his teaching job to focus completely on his work with the IRB. He also helped with their newspaper, The Irish People. He worked there as an assistant bookkeeper and part-time journalist. In 1865, the British government felt an uprising was coming. They raided the newspaper's office and shut it down. Cornelius was arrested along with other leaders like Charles Kickham and John O'Leary. They were accused of planning against the Queen and trying to get foreign countries to invade Ireland. A small uprising, known as the Fenian Rising, happened in 1867, but it was quickly stopped.

Prison and a New Start in Australia

Cornelius O'Mahony was found guilty in Dublin on January 16, 1866. He was sentenced to five years of hard labor in prison. However, his sentence was changed. Instead of staying in prison in Ireland, he was sent to a penal colony in Western Australia.

In October 1867, Cornelius and over 60 other Fenians sailed on a ship called the Hougoumont. This ship was the very last one to carry convicts to Australia. The journey was mostly calm, though a bit boring. The ship arrived in Fremantle, Australia, on January 9, 1868.

Within a year of arriving, Cornelius was given a "Ticket of leave". This meant he had some freedom to work and live outside prison, but was still under supervision. On May 18, 1869, he received his "Certificate of freedom". This was part of a general pardon given by the government.

After gaining his freedom, Cornelius went back to teaching. He became a teacher for older students at the Catholic Boys' School in Perth. He also worked as the Honorary Secretary of the Catholic Institute in Perth, which helped local Catholic schools and teachers.

In 1874, Cornelius married Mary Butler. They had two children: O'Connell Daniel (born 1875) and Honora Mary (born 1877). Mary had arrived in Western Australia from Ireland in 1864 when she was 15. She became a well-known and respected person in the community. Many people attended her funeral in 1914.

Final Years in Melbourne

After his daughter Honora was born in 1877, Cornelius left Western Australia. He moved to Victoria in search of better opportunities. He settled in West Melbourne, which had a large Irish population. Because of his teaching experience, he was asked to become the head teacher at St Mary's Primary School, West Melbourne.

In 1878, he became an honorary member of the St Patrick's Society in Melbourne. This group supported Irish Catholics, promoted Irish culture, and worked for Ireland's independence.

Cornelius worked at the school for less than two years. He became very ill and sadly died of typhoid fever on March 5, 1879. Newspapers at the time reported that many people in West Melbourne were dying from typhoid.

His funeral was held at St Mary Star of the Sea, West Melbourne. Then, a procession followed his coffin to his burial place at the Melbourne General Cemetery. Hundreds of people, including schoolchildren, attended. Many wore green scarves to show their respect. His friends in the Irish community raised money to build a memorial for him. They even raffled off his personal library to help collect funds. Soon after his burial, a carved Celtic cross made of local stone was placed over his grave. The plaque on it reads: "In Memory of Cornelius O'Mahony, Macroom, County Cork, Ireland, Released Political Prisoner, Died 5th March, 1879. R.I.P."

The monument placed over Cornelius O'Mahony's grave.