John Boyle O'Reilly, the famous Irish rebel who lived in Boston from 1870 until his death in 1890, was born on June 28, 1844 in Dowth Castle along the River Boyne.
In Boston, he became a respected poet, orator, journalist and defender of the downtrodden. He helped to move Boston from a plutocracy to a democracy by demanding equal rights for all citizens and challenging the status quo of the privileged.
The O'Reilly Memorial, located in Boston's Fens along the Boston Irish Heritage Trail, was created by sculptor Daniel Chester French.
For year round details on Boston Irish history, heritage and cultural activities, visit IrishBoston.org.
For more about O'Reilly and other Boston Irish heroes, read Irish Boston: A Lively Look at Boston's Colorful Irish Past, available from Globe Pequot Press.
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