Taoiseach unveils new stamps for Daniel O’Connell 250th anniversary

31 July 2025

Designed by Irish artist David Rooney, the two national (N) rate stamps commemorate Daniel O'Connell's enduring legacy, showing him as an inspiring and towering figure in momentous, stylised scenes from his life.  
 
One stamp depicts his release from Richmond Bridewell after his three-month imprisonment while a second stamps shows him front and centre at one of his famous ‘monster meetings.’   A limited edition First Day Cover envelope features his famous statue in Ennis, Co. Clare and is available, together with the stamps, at selected post offices and online at anpost.com/history (with free delivery) from 31st July.  
 
Speaking at the O'Connell 250 Symposium: Liberty, Democracy, and the Struggle for Human Rights’ taking place at Trinity College, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "By every measure, Daniel O’Connell was the most internationally known and influential leader in our history. In the words of Gladstone, he was the greatest popular leader the world has ever known. He was a campaigner for the Catholic emancipation, the repeal of the Act of the Union and the abolition of slavery. He proved to be a powerful constitutional and legal reformer. I am delighted to unveil these stamps marking 250 years since his birth, to honour him and remember his legacy." 
 
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post said: We, at An Post, are delighted to have been able to deliver this stamp pair marking the incredible life and the many achievements of Daniel O’Connell. We hope that the stamps will promote a renewed interest in this global figure who, more than being just a man of his time, is also an iconic figure for the times in which we live.’’  
 
Born in 1775, Daniel O’Connell emerged as a key figure in Ireland's pursuit of parliamentary democracy through his movement for the repeal of the 1800 Act of Union. Barred from taking his parliamentary seat in 1828, his campaign eventually led to the passage of the 1829 Roman Catholic Relief Act. This granted Roman Catholics the right to serve as Members of Parliament and hold most public offices.