Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa

O’Donovan Rossa was born in Rosscarbery and baptised in St Fachtna’s Parish Church on the 4^th September 1831. At 3 years of age he went to live with his maternal grandparents in Reennascreena, returning to Rosscarbery four years later. Irish was the language of house and farm and from this his love of all things Irish grew. He was educated at Ardagh Boys N S from 1838 to 1845. His father died in 1847, at the height of the, Great Hunger, and is buried in the family tomb in Rosscarbery Abbey Graveyard. Rossa went to work in Skibbereen before setting up his own hardware and seed business there. His family all emigrated to America about 1851. In 1853 he married Nano Eagar, they had 4 children. Nano died in 1859. In 1861 he married Eileen Buckley from Castlehaven, they had one son, and Eileen died of fever shortly after the birth of their son. O’Donovan Rossa founded the Phoenix National & Literary Society in Skibbereen in 1856; this became The Fenian Society in 1858.

In 1864 he married Mary Jane Irwin, from Clonakilty. In 1865 he was arrested and having been found guilty of treason felony, was sentenced to penal servitude for live. He was elected MP for Tipperary County in 1869 but could not take his seat as he was a convicted felon.Pardoned and exiled to America in 1871 he lived in Staten Island New York, where he and Mary Jane raised their thirteen children. He visited Ireland in 1894 and again in 1904 when he unveiled The Maid of Erin statue in Skibbereen, and was granted the Freedom of Cork City. He died in St Vincent’s Hospital, Staten Island on 29^th June 1915 and was buried in Glasnevin on the 1^st August. His funeral is regarded as being the springboard for the 1916 Easter Rising.

Diarmaid Ó Donnabháin Rosa.

Rugadh D Ó Donnabháin Rosa I Ros Cairbre agus baisteadh é in Eaglais Naomh Fachtna ar 4ú Meán Fómhair 1831. Nuair a bhí sé trí bliana d’aois chuaigh sé chun cónaí le tuismitheoirí a mháthar I Ré na Scríne. D’fhill sé ar Ros Cairbre arís ceithre bliana ina dhiaidh sin. B’í an Ghaeilge teanga an teaghlaigh I Ré na Scríne agus de bharr sin d’fhás a ghrá don Ghaeilge agus do gach rud Gaelach.

D’fhreastail sé ar Scoil na mBuachaillí in Ardachadh ó 1838 – 1845. D’éag a athair in 1847 I rith an Ghorta Mhóir agus tá sé curtha in uaigh a mhuintire I Reilig Ros Cairbre. Ansin chuaigh sé chun cónaithe go Sciobairín áit inar bhunaigh sé a ghnó crua-earraí agus síl. Chuaigh a mhuintir go léir ar imirce go Meiriceá sa bhliain 1851. Sa bhliain 1853 phós sé Nóra agus bhí ceathrar clainne acu. Fuair Nóra bás in 1859. Sa bhliain 1861 phós sé Eiléan Ní Bhuachalla ó Ghleann Bhearacháin. Saolaíodh aon mhac amháin dóibh agus tamaillín tar eis a breithe fuair Eiléan bás den fhiobhras. Bhunaigh Rosa “The Phoenix National and Literary Society” in 1856 sa Sciobairín agus ba as sin a d’eascair Gluaiseacht na bhFíníní sa bhliain 1858. Phós sé Máire Ní Eireamhóin ó Chloch na Coillte in 1864. Gabhadh é in 1865 agus cuireadh ina leith go ndearna sé tréas. Gearradh pianseirbhís saoil air.

Toghadh é mar Theachta Parlaiminte do Chontae Thiobraid Árann in 1869 ach cuireadh cosc air a shuíochán a thógáil toisc gur daoradh é roimhe sin mar fheileon. Tugadh pardún dó agus b’éigean dó du lar deoraíocht go Meiriceá in 1871. Chónaigh sé féin, a bhean Máire agus a dtriúr páiste déag in Oileán Staten, Nua Eabhrac. Thug sé cuairt ar Éirinn in 1894 agus arís I 1904

Nuair a bronnadh Saoirse Chathair Chorcaí air. Fuair sé bás in Ospidéal Uinsinn Naofa, Oileán Staten ar 29 Meitheamh 1915, agus adhlacadh é I Reilig Ghlas Naíon ar Lúnasa 1915. Glactar leis anois gur spreag a shochraid Éirí Amach na Cásca 1916.