Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-05-27
His Name Is Carved on the
Famous Tower on MORO
Castle.
Queen Isabella's Tribute to the
Distinguished Statesman
and Soldier.
DESCENDED FROM A NOBLE FAMILY

Havana, like all other persons who visit
that historic city, he was impressed with
the tremendous strength of Moro. On
the famous tower that contains the light
house is carved in large letters the name
"O'Donntll," concerning whom few
words might prove interesting to the
many readers of the Kentucky Irish
American.
The O'Donnell's we're one of those
noble Irish families who emigrated from
Ireland with the O'Reillys, O'Farrells
and others to Spain during the Jacobite
wars in England and Ireland. The pies
ent Duke of Tetuan, late member of the
Spanish Cabinet, is the son of the O'Don-
nell whose name is carved on Morro's
tower. Senior Leopoldo O'Donnell was
born in Teneriffe, one of the Canary
Islands, in January, 1909, and was the
descendent of the O'Donnells who pos
sessed a large patrimony in Tremoniel
(Tyrconnell), Ireland. In one of those
clannish quarrels which were so frequent
in those days the O'Donnells were over
powered by the powerful family of the
O'Neills. One of the O'Donnell's, ances-
tor of Leopoldo O'Donnell, won by his
valor from James l. the title of Baron of
Donegal and Tremoniel. When the
Stuarts were driven into exile the O'Don-
nells followed the prescribed dynasty.
Part of the family settled in Austria, the
rest going to Spain. These countries
were dominated by a Catholic and
monarchical spirit in harmony with the
religious and political beliefs of those
noble emigrants.
The O'Donnells kept up their reputa-
ton for bravery in the land Of their adop-
ton. At the expense of their blood they
became naturalized in Spain. leopold
O'Donnell's father was Lieutenant Gen.
eral and his grandfather Lietenant Col
onel of regiment formed of those emf
grants from Ireland.
Son of family of soldiers, and raised
during a time when Spain was endeavor-
ing to throw off the yoke of the Bona
parties, young O'Donnell naturally took
to the army. Let us pass rapidly ovei
his infancy. By a special royal decree
he was made sub-Lieutenant at the age
of eleven, and was made full Lieuten
ant in 1927. When Don Pedro Sarsfield
formed an army of observation on the
frontier of Portugal in 1929 O'Donnel
commanded one of the regiments. Shortly
afterward he went to Catalina, where he
had an audience with the King, who
gave him command in the army sent t.
suppress the Carlists.
An old Spanish writer, in speaking o
O'Donnell at this time, said that he was
tall and fair and plainly showed hi
Northern extraction. The turning poin
in O'Donnell's career was the death o
the reigning monarch, which occurred II
1888. All Spain divided into two hostile
camps. On the one side was the Infant
Don Carlos, with all the old traditions
absolute monarchy, while on the othe
stood the Infanta Isabella, representing
the Liberal party. Everything scenes
to point to Carlist success, but O'Donnel
: did not hesitate moment. Althoug
the traditions of his family, the exampl
/ of his brothers and the pleadings OF hi
mother, whom he adored, all tended t
= drive him into the camp of the Carlist:
: O'Donnell decided for Isabella and tn
| Liberal party. He remained faithful t
: the Queen in all the years of his life fror
: the time he first espoused her cause, fror
D 1888 till his death in 1867. Always faitf
S full to his ideas of loyalty and patriotism
today he was triumphant, tomorrow a
exile, but whether soldier, General, Nil
lister or member of Parliament, he II
tnsined incorruptible.
He was sent to Cuba in 1843, where b
; remained for FIVE years. 1t is said thu
: in Cuba, and in fact in all the SPANS
colonies, the Office of Captain Generi
: was given to some favorite who plui
, dered the colonists and returned to Spai
: with the fortune of a prince. This WI
:. said particularly about Gen. Weyle
|" who is charged with returning to Spai
> the possessor OF fortune of S5,0OO,OO
Whatever truth may be i'll these alleg
, tons, it is certain that O'Donnell r
> turned to the Peninsula poorer than
> came. He was the first Captain Gener
that visited the whole island. He remo
!. eled the army, which had little or no di
: cipline. He strengthened all the forth
= cations around Havana, especially
. MORO, which still bears his name on
= famous tower. He also suppressed TO
= midable instruction of the slaves.
!, Up to O'Donnell's time several Engli'
: firms had been repairing all the shi
:, that entered Havana harbor. He chang'
= this and had the work done by Cubs
. and Spanish workmen. For this he W
ii terribly abused by the British press, esp
cially the London Times. When he Z