William John FitzPatrick

“ In 1779 Ogle joined the association called the Monks of St. Patrick. In 1782 he became a colonel in the Irish volunteers, actively supported that movement, and strongly asserted the claim of Ireland to legislative independence. But when the national convention assembled at Dublin under Lord Charlemont's presidency, in November 1783, Ogle is said to have delivered a message purporting to come from Lord Kenmare to the effect that the catholics of Ireland were satisfied with the privileges they had already obtained, and desired no more (England, Life of O'Leary, p. 109) . ”

“ A favourite Italian glee of the day contained the refrain 'Che no' hanno crudeltà,' and a parody on this, 'Kane O'Hara's cruel tall,' was written by a local wag, which had much popularity in Dublin as a slang song. In his old age he is described as having the appearance of 'an old fop with spectacles and an antiquated wig, yet withal a polite, sensible, agreeable man, the pink of gentility and good breeding, and an am using companion, though somewhat prosy.' O'Hara in later life moved from King Street, Dublin, to Molesworth Street ”

“ O'KEEFFE, JOHN (1747–1833) , dramatist, descended from an old catholic stock which had gradually sunk under the burden of the penal laws, was born in Abbey Street, Dublin, on 24 June 1747. His father was a native of King's County, his mother an O'Connor of co. Wexford. He was educated by Father Austin, a jesuit, who kept a school in Saul's Court. He afterwards studied art in the Dublin school of design, together with a brother Daniel. ”

“ O'HARA, KANE (1714?–1782) , writer of burlesques, born about 1714, came of an old Sligo stock famous for their musical taste. He was youngest son of Kane O'Hara of Temple House, co. Sligo, who in his will, dated 28 March 1719, named a sum to be expended on his younger sons, Adam and Kane, during their minorities. Kane, the younger, entered Trinity College, Dublin, and graduated B.A. in 1732 and M.A. in 1735. He subsequently resided in Dublin, and interested himself in music. The musical academy at Dublin was founded in 1758 mainly by his exertions. ”

“ He resigned the governorship of Malta in 1851, on the ground that he declined to serve under Lord John Russell, the prime minister, who in that year carried into law the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, in opposition to the papal bull which created a catholic hierarchy in England. ”

“ But in the disturbed period of 1798 he consented to reenter parliament as member for Dublin. Although he voted against the legislative union in 1800, he was returned to the united parliament of 1801 as the representative of Dublin, and finally retired in 1804. ”

“ Before 1778 he was challenged to a duel by Barney Coyle, a whisky distiller and member of the catholic board, on the ground that he had publicly said that' a papist could swallow a false oath as easily as a poached egg.' Eight shots were exchanged, but the combatants remained unhurt. ”

“ The priest followed up his advantage by starting a newspaper called ‘The Federalist,’ in which his opinions obtained eloquent advocacy. Soon after he engaged in an effort to unite Old and Young Ireland. ”

“ About 1780 O'Keeffe removed from Dublin to London, with a view to obtaining an engagement as an actor. But in this endeavour he was not successful, and he consequently devoted himself to writing comic pieces, chiefly for the Haymarket and Covent Garden Theatres. ”

“ The songs in his operas had an attractive sparkle, and some, like ‘I am a Friar of Orders Grey’ and ‘Amo Amas I love a Lass,’ are still popular. He was always a facile if not a very finished rhymester. ”

“ At Covent Garden were represented O'Keeffe's *‘The Positive Man’ (16 March 1782) ; *‘Castle of Andalusia,’ comic opera (2 Nov. 1782) ; *‘Poor Soldier,’ comic opera (4 Nov. 1783) ; *‘Fontainebleau’ (16 Nov. 1784) ; *‘The Blacksmith of Antwerp’ (7 Feb. 1785) ; ‘Omai,’ a pantomime (20 Dec. 1785) ; *‘Love in a Camp, or Patrick in Prussia,’ musical piece (17 Feb. 1786) ; *‘The Man Milliner’ (27 Jan. 1787) ”

“ In his later years he was affectionately tended by his only daughter, Adelaide (see an interesting manuscript letter by Adelaide O'Keeffe, bound in one of the copies of the ‘Recollections’ in the British Museum. In the same copy are a few lines scrawled in O'Keeffe's own hand) . About 1815 he retired from London to Chichester (Notes and Queries, 7th ser. ii. 9) . From Chichester he removed in 1830 to Southampton. As late as that year he could dictate verse epistles with all his youthful alacrity (ib. 3rd ser. x. 307) . ”