Heralded as the Great Liberator, much is known of the life of Daniel O’Connell – especially as a politician, an Irish nationalist, and for his perseverance in fighting for the rights of the Irish people. Less is known of his fervent Catholic faith, his concern for the education of Catholics, and his desire that they be politically and theologically literate.The O’Connells, a devout Catholic family of Derrynane, County Kerry, like most Irish Catholics, were acutely aware of the ill-affect experienced by the Irish at the expense of the enactment of the Penal Laws.