The Uncrowned King of Ireland, who came crashing down from his pedestal for following his heart, a tireless campaigner for Home Rule and a wonderful parliamentarian. Charles Stewart Parnell's life has the makings of a Greek tragedy, but is one of the most important in Irish history. His romance with Kitty O'Shea is the stuff most romance novelists can't even dream of, and has been the subject of poetry, song and literature ever since.
The quote on the statue itself is one of the most famous to ever come out of Ireland, on a par with Emmett's (though Parnell definately said this one!).
A man who united Ireland only to tear it apart at the seams, his demise led directly to the tearing apart of the Irish parliamentary presence in Westminster for decades, and his influence has rarely been surpassed.
OK, that sounds like the biggest load of boloney ever, but it's true. He is one of the most influential figures in Irish political history, yet is loved for his love of a married woman. You just can't make this stuff up! read more