Skip to main content

The Sudden Death of Irish Patriot and Poet John Boyle O'Reilly on August 10, 1890


Poster Courtesy of Boston Irish Tourism Association

Irish patriot, poet, scholar and athlete John Boyle O'Reilly died suddenly at his summer home in Hull, Massachusetts on August 10, 1890, from an accidental overdose of medication taken for insomnia. 

For the two decades he lived in Boston, since arriving in January 1870, O’Reilly had quickly become an influential writer, orator, advocate and sage, especially for the city’s large Irish population and the Black community. He was beloved by the literati, business and political establishments, church leaders, and by ordinary people everywhere, who recognized his authenticity, dignity and good-will. 

St. Mary's Church, Charlestown

His funeral was held at St. Mary's Church on Warren Street in Charlestown, right around the corner from his home at 34 Winthrop Street. 

The church was full to the brim, and participants included his wife Mary and four daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, Agnes and Blanid, and hundreds of friends, colleagues and admirers who came to pay homage to their folk hero. 

Rev. Robert J. Fulton of Boston College delivered the eulogy, and pallbearers included T. B. Fitzgerald of the Catholic Union, Colonel Charles H. Taylor of The Boston Globe, John D. Holmes of the Boston Herald, Michael T. Donahoe of the Charitable Irish Society, James Jeffrey of the Papyrus Club, Robert F. Clarke of Boston Athletic Association, Patrick A. Collins and Colonel T.W. Higginson. 

In the weeks, months and years following O’Reilly’s death, numerous organizations held their own meetings to honor him, including Charitable Irish Society, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Catholic Union, Boston Athletic Association, the Papyrus Club and others. 

A massive meeting was held at Tremont Temple on September 2, 1890, and plans were announced to create a memorial for O’Reilly in the city of Boston. Patrick A. Collins, a close friend and ally of O’Reilly, said, “Take the lesson of his life to your hearts young men, you who are scrambling and wrangling for petty dignities and small honors. This man held no office and had no title. This man was larger than any office, and no title could ennoble him. He was born without prejudice, and he lived and died without an ungenerous thought.” 


On August 20, the National Colored League convened a meeting at the A.M.E. Church on Charles Street, and in addition, a number of Black leaders shared their thoughts about O’Reilly. 

 Hon. Frederick Douglass, United States minister to Haiti, said, "I regret very deeply to learn of the sudden death of John Boyle O'Reilly. He was a man whom I honored.” City Councilman Charles E. Harris said, “He was a true friend to my race. They will greatly miss him. Had he lived a while longer, we should have seen a great change here in Boston. It was through his efforts that the good feeling now existing between the Irish and colored citizens became possible.” 

Boston Public Library

The Trustees of the Boston Public Library were enthusiastic about a plan put forth to create an Alcove of books dedicated to O’Reilly in the new McKim Building. Chairman S.A.B. Abbot said, "It would be a very good thing to have an alcove to be called the John Boyle O'Reilly library, and there could be a bust or painting of him there also.” 

AIHS notice for O'Reilly Ceremony in Hull, August 10, 1917

 On August 10, 1917, the American Irish Historical Association unveiled a stone tablet in O’Reilly’s honor at his summer home in Hull, where he died. Today, the Ancient Order of Hibernians holds a memorial mass at O’Reilly’s gravesite at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline. 

Here is a selection of public landmarks in O’Reilly’s honor throughout Massachusetts.  For additional information, visit the Boston Irish Heritage Trail and South Shore Irish Heritage Trail. 

For updates on the Irish cultural community in Massachusetts and New England, visit irishmassachusetts.com. 

Research, Photos + Text, Michael Quinlin

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Boston Celtics : The Story Behind Their Irish Green Theme

Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1959 (This story was updated in March 2024) Many people wonder why the  Boston Celtics  wear shamrocks on their green uniforms and have a giant leprechaun smoking a cigar as their team logo. And why is the team mascot a guy named Lucky who looks like he stepped out of a box of Lucky Charms? According to the Boston Celtic’s official web site, the name came about in 1946 when owner Walter Brown started the team. He and his public relations guy, Howie McHugh, were throwing out potential nicknames, including the Whirlwinds, Unicorns and Olympics. It was Brown who had the epiphany, saying, “Wait, I’ve got it – the Celtics. The name has a great basketball tradition from the old Original Celtics in New York (1920s). And Boston is full of Irishman. We’ll put them in green uniforms and call them the Boston Celtics.” Red Auerbach , the now legendary coach of the early Celtics, then commissioned his brother Zang, a graphic d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Boston Mayors of Irish Descent, 1885-2021

(Originally published in 2013, this post was updated in 2021) Here are the Mayors of Boston Claiming Irish Heritage:  Hugh O’Brien 1885–88 Patrick Collins 1902–05 John F. Fitzgerald 1906–07, 1910–13 James M. Curley 1914–17, 1922–25, 1930–33, 1946–49 Frederick W. Mansfield 1934–37 Maurice Tobin 1938–41, 1941-44 John Kerrigan 1945 John B. Hynes 1950–59 John Collins 1960–68 Kevin H. White 1968–83 Raymond L. Flynn 1984–93 Martin J. Walsh   2014- 2021 The lineage of Boston mayors with Irish ancestry dates back to 1885, when Irish immigrant Hugh O'Brien of County Cork assumed office and became the first Irish-born mayor elected in Boston, serving four one-year terms (1885-88).   O'Brien was followed by Irish-born Patrick Collins (1902-05), also of County Cork, who died in office in 1905. He was replaced by John F. Fitzgerald, who became the first American-born mayor of Irish descent, serving two terms.  A noteworthy...
Post a Comment
Read more

Visit these Public Memorials to John Boyle O'Reilly throughout Massachusetts

  Born 180 years ago on June 28, 1844, John Boyle O’Reilly helped shape the history or Ireland and America in the late 19th century in powerful ways. Today, O'Reilly’s stature as a seminal figure in Irish and Irish-American history is particularly evident in his beloved birthplace of Dowth, County Meath; in Freemantle, Australia where he was imprisoned; and indeed, throughout the Irish Diaspora.  O'REILLY LANDMARKS IN MASSACHUSETTS O’Reilly remains popular in Boston, New Bedford, Hull and Springfield where there is a selection of memorials and plaques, parks and city squares, library collections and Irish organizations honoring O’Reilly’s memory. In Boston, the John Boyle O’Reilly Memorial at the corner of Boylston Street and The Fens, not far from Fenway Park, was unveiled in 1896 by famed Concord sculptor Daniel French. The Memorial is part of Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail. In Charlestown, O’Reilly lived at 34 Winthrop Street, where there is a plaque in his honor. In 1988 t...
Post a Comment
Read more