John Francis O'Donnell facts for kids

John Francis O'Donnell (born in 1837 – died May 17, 1874) was an Irish journalist and poet. He wrote many poems and articles, often about Irish history and national pride.

Early Life and Career

John Francis O'Donnell was born in Limerick, a city in Ireland. His father was a shopkeeper. John went to school with the Christian Brothers, who were teachers.

When he was 17, John learned shorthand, which is a fast way to write down what people are saying. He then started working as a reporter for The Munster News, a newspaper published twice a week in Limerick. At the same time, he began writing poems for The Nation. This newspaper was connected to the Young Ireland movement, a group that wanted more rights and freedom for Ireland. John continued to write for The Nation for twenty years, until he passed away.

After two years as a reporter, O'Donnell became a sub-editor (a type of assistant editor) at The Tipperary Examiner in Clonmel. In 1860, he moved to London, England. There, he got a job at The Universal News, a weekly newspaper that shared Roman Catholic and Irish nationalist views. He also wrote poems for other popular magazines like Chambers's Journal and All the Year Round. The famous writer Charles Dickens was the editor of All the Year Round at the time. Dickens even wrote an encouraging letter to O'Donnell, showing he was interested in the young poet's work.

Working in Dublin and London

In 1862, O'Donnell went back to Dublin, Ireland, and joined the editing team of The Nation. At the same time, he also edited Duffy's Hibernian Magazine, which was published every month. However, John O'Donnell was a restless person and moved around a lot. By 1864, he was back in London, working as the editor of The Universal News again. The next year, he became a sub-editor for The Tablet, a Catholic newspaper, and stayed there until 1868.

During this time, a group called the Fenian movement was very active in Ireland. The Fenians wanted Ireland to be independent from British rule. It's not fully known if O'Donnell was a member of the Fenians, but he was a strong supporter of their ideas through his writing. He wrote many poems with strong national feelings, using pen names like "Caviare" and "Monkton West." These poems were published in Irish newspapers. He also worked as the London correspondent for The Irish People, which was the main newspaper for the Fenian movement. This newspaper, edited by John O'Leary, started in 1863 but was shut down by the government in 1865.

In September 1873, O'Donnell got a job in the London office of the agent-general for New Zealand. He passed away shortly after, on May 7, 1874, at the age of 37. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.