The Irish standard., 1900-08-18
He Early Joined the Society Of
the United Irishmen.
BETRAYED BY ONE OF HIS OWN MEN
After Excruciating Torments He
Won His Freedom.

In the records of Irish heroism there
is no name more worthy of prominence,
more deserving OF reverence, on the
part Of all who value patriotism and
manly virtue than that of the subject
of the following sketch, writes William
Harkin. F. R. S. A., in the United Irish
man. That the world knows nothing OF
its greatest and noblest men we can well
believe when we learn that outside the
limits of Kilmacrennan the name OF
Manus ODonnell has hardly if ever
been heard of. Yet no knight of ro>
nance has surpassed him in the quail
ties which go to make up the hero; no
champion of his country's rights,
though his statue may stand surround
cd by every circumstance Of triumph
and honor, in the midst Of The people
whom he made free, was more deserving
Of the name OF patriot. The fidelity with
which, in the presence of the most dead
ly danger, he stood by his principles;
the fortitude with which he endured the
snfferings insultingly and savagely in
f'icted on him; the frmness with which
he met every attempt to intimidate or
corrupt him into betrayal OF his com
rades or the cause with which he was
connected, arc striking instance OF
the meanness of tyranny on the one
hand, and OF magnanimous and heroic
conduct ON the other-almost enough
tc make one proud Of his humanity.
The deeds of the Roman Currirs, ui
Mutius Scaevo1a, of the heroes who,
fought and fell at Marathon and Their
mopylae are not more deserving OF
honor. What they did they did i'll the
light of day, before the eyes OF their
countrymen, and in the assurance OF
an immortal fame; but there was no
eye to witness the sacrifices and suf-
fering OF Manus O'Donnell, except that
of the tyrant who tortured him, 10
tongue to record his deeds except such
as was sure to misrepresent and caluin>
Mate him. Among the men who made
memorable the era of 'o8, there is no
name more deserving OF the affection
and respect of his countrymen than his
whom we would now endcavor to res
cue from oblivion, which so often over.
takes the modesty of real merit.
Manus O'Donnell of Goal, in the
county of Donegal, was born in 1888,
and was, therefore, about 40 years OF
age at the time of the rising. His par
ents on both sides were O'Donnells-
his fathers name being Edward O'Don-
nell of Derryveigh, his mothers Cathe-
rine O'Donnell of Lower Goal, and he
was their only son. Sprung from the
O'Donnells of Innisaila, an island off
the coast of the Roses, who traced
their descent from the stock If Red
Hugh, the spirit and character of Ma.
nus can we'll be taken in verifcation of
their claim. He was educated at the
High School in Lower Goal by Mr.
McGrahanan, a classical scholar, and
afterwards at the high school in Letter.
kenny, under the presidency of Most
Rev. DR.. Coyle, bishop of Raphoe. He
was originally intended for holy orders,
hut for some reason or other the idea
was abandoned. He early joined the
Society of United Irishmen, and short
ly after doing so was appointed cap
tain and second in command of the
forces in his native district. The SER
pent, however, was soon on his track.
He was betrayed by one of his own
men, wretch named McGrath, a ma
tive of Kilmacrennan, who gave infor-
nation to the authorities of the promi-
nent position Manus occupied in the
organization, which led to his imme-
diate arrest This was in the year 1898.
He was taken to Letterkenny, where he
was kept confined in cold and loath-
some cell for three weeks and FIVE days
chained by the neck, with thumbscrews
placed upon his thumbs, and given for
food a pennyworth of brown bread and
a pint of water each day. This treat
ment, besides inhicting on him extreme
torture, resulted in the loss OF blood
and of both his thumbnails for time.
He was then removed to Lifford Jail,
but before being removed and while suf-
fering acute1y from the effects of the
foregoing treatment, an attempt was
mad. TO 3 b,ibe him into giving in