Evening star., 1927-10-22
IRISH PR|MATE DIES
OF BRIEF ILLNESS
Double Pneumonia Proves
Fatal to Cardinal 0'Don-
nell in Dublin.
By the Associated Press.


DUBLIN, Ireland, October 22.-
Patrick, Cardinal O'Donnell, primate
of Ireland, died shortly before noon
today at Carlingford, where he had
been Ill several weeks suffering from
double pneumonia.
Although the death of Cardinal
OrDonnell had been regarded as in.
evitable by those in close touch with
him, the end came with unexpected
suddenness at 11:05 o'clock this
morning.
The cardinals attending physician,
DIR. Finnegan, stated that the cause
of death was an embolus. or obstruc.
ton in the circulatory system by a
blood clot.
Very Weak for Days.
The cardinals condition had fiuctu-
ated within recent days. At one time
he suffered stroke which brought
death very close, but recovered. For
the last few days he had been very
weak. His illness was diagnosed as
influenza pneumonia, and pleurisy had
developed on the right side.
Bonfires blaZed on the hills OF
Donegal on the night of December IA,
1925. They marked the elevation on
that day to the cardinalate of Mgr.
Patrick O'Donnell, Archbishop of
Armagh, who from Donegal cottage
had risen to the rank of prince Of the
church. He succeeded Cardinal
Logue, who died in 1924.
The history of his family was for
years the history Of Donegal. From
the thirteenth to the seventeenth GEN.
turies the O'Donnells ruled in Done
gal and no other princely Gaelic house
produced as many able men. Cardinal
O'Donnell was born in Kilraine, Glen
ties, County Donegal, in 1856.
For some years he was the young
est bishop in the church, having been
appointed bishop of Raphoe by Pope
Leo XIII when he was 81. He had
previously been a professor Of theol-
ogy in St Patrick's College, Maynooth.
Won Hearts Of People.
Raphoe covers the County OF Done
gal and the young bishop had do
cese liable to poverty and largely
Irish. speaking. He was, himseh,
fluent sneaker Of Irish and won the
hearts of his people by his deVotloh
to their needs.
Donegal had been stronghold OF
the ooonshine industry. The young
bishop announced that to drink or
h,,v or sell "poteen" was reserved
offense for which only a bishop coulo
Give absolution. That might mean
Tourney of 40 miles to Letterkenny
and there was a disagreeable inter
view in prospect for the penitent
moonshiner. Consequently. within f1ve
years "poteen" disappeared from the
Cardinal O'Donnell was an ardent
supporter of the home rule. move
ment and the trusted adviser OF the
Irish parliamentary leaders from
Parnell to Redmond. Conciliatory In
method, with wide economic and
financial knowledge, he was an i'm.
portant force in Irish politics.
Active In Movement.
Bishop O'Donnell's prominence in
the home rule movement was marked
by his selection as chairman Of the
national convention in 1897. When
premier Lloyd George in 1917 at.
tempted q solution of the Irish ques.
tion by consent and set up q conven.
ton Of all parties to debate II, Bishop
O,Donnell was one of its members and
took an active part in its discussions.
The convention failed, partly owing
to the absence of Sim Feiners, and
partly owing to differences on Irisk
financial autonomy. Bishop O'Don.
nell warmly advocated Ireland's fight
for fiscal freedom.