O’Connell’s missing heart reignites debate on 250th Anniversary

Thursday 07 August 2025 - 09:45

On the 250th anniversary of the birth of Irish political hero Daniel O’Connell, the country celebrated with official ceremonies and renewed questions about one enduring enigma: where is his heart?

Known as “the Liberator” for his efforts in securing Catholic emancipation in 1829 and leading a campaign to repeal the Act of Union, O’Connell was a towering figure in 19th-century Ireland. Before his death in 1847, he famously requested that his body be returned to Ireland, his soul to heaven, and his heart to Rome.

Following his death, the heart was reportedly embalmed and sent to the Irish College at the Church of St. Agata dei Goti in Rome, a location long cherished by the Irish Catholic community. However, in 1927, during the college’s relocation, the heart disappeared without a trace.

The mystery remains unsolved nearly a century later. Historians and descendants are now calling for a renewed investigation. Maurice O’Connell, a direct descendant of the Liberator, told RTÉ that the anniversary was “the perfect moment to reignite the search” and hoped the heart could be eventually reburied beside O’Connell’s wife on Abbey Island, County Kerry.

Multiple theories exist. Some believe the heart was unintentionally removed during building works linked to the Bank of Italy and possibly reinterred in Campo Verano cemetery. Others suspect theft, especially if the urn had been transferred to a decorative silver container.

Despite the uncertainty, O’Connell’s legacy is undisputed. Statues, streets, and institutions bear his name across Ireland, and his remains lie under a grand tower in Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery. Only his heart, the symbol of his final wish, remains missing.