Kathleen O’Connell was born on 5 October 1888 at Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry, one of eleven children of John O’Connell, farmer, and Mary Ann O’Connell (née O’Sullivan). Educated locally, she emigrated to America in 1904 and trained as a secretary in Chicago. In 1912 she became secretary to the American delegation of the Gaelic League in New York. In response to news of the Easter rising she joined Cumann na mBan in the US and became active in collecting aid for the dependants of the men killed and wounded.

On 2 October 1919 she was requested by Éamon de Valera to join the ‘consular staff’ of his tour of America. Throughout the tour she worked closely with him, travelling the country dealing with his public and private correspondence and assisting with his speeches. Returning to Ireland with de Valera in November 1920, she immediately went into hiding. Arrested with de Valera on 22 June 1921, they were released the following day. She joined the delegation to meet Lloyd George in July 1921 and was later to share de Valera’s views of the treaty.

She followed de Valera loyally throughout the civil war and was present on the platform in Ennis at his arrest in August 1923. During his imprisonment she acted as his agent and messenger throughout the country. Devoted to the cause of Ireland, she identified service to the nation with service to de Valera.

Through opposition and government she was a constant at de Valera’s side, both nationally and internationally. Forced to retire in 1954 because of a cancer-related illness, her position was taken by her niece Maire O’Kelly. She died 7 April 1956 and was buried at Glasnevin cemetery.

(Source: Dictionary of Irish Biography)

The Kathleen O’Connell papers in UCD Archives relate overwhelmingly to O’Connell’s association with Eamon de Valera. However, the papers also include a series of photographs spanning over forty years from 1912–1956. O’Connell was well travelled and the collection includes images from her travels both in Ireland and throughout Europe. The first photograph below is dated July 1931, taken by Kathleen O’Connell while holidaying in Bruge, Belgium, with the author Annie M.P. Smithson. The scene is of a cobbled square, tall buildings at back, a man leading a large dog pulling a small cart to the front. An annotation in Kathleen’s hand records that she sent the photograph to the Irish Independent which published it and gave her 10/-. The second photograph is of O’Connell herself, taken during her final holiday in Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry before her death. She is in the hills above the village, sitting looking directly at the camera, with the sea visible in the background.

UCDA P155/242, 282 Papers of Kathleen O’Connell, photographs taken in Bruge, Belgium and Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry.

UCDA P155/242