O’Connell championed Catholic Emancipation and Irish popular politics. In Britain, his importance to liberal reform transcended his role as an Irish leader. In the United States, those schooled in his ideas of mass democracy copied his methods. He was remarkably liberal, realising and urging not only the potential of emerging democratic forces but also the liberation of slaves as well as Jewish Emancipation. He was, of course, a famous lawyer and played a prominent part in Irish business. Although O’Connell was sometimes a controversial leader, his ideals are of continuing national and international relevance. It is the aim of the School to study this many-sided man, the qualities of his thought and performance, and the modern application of these legacies.

Chuir Dómhnall Ó Conaill tús le cultúr nua i bpolaitíocht na hÉireann agus na hEorpa. Duine mór le rá ab ea é sa Bhreatain agus cáil air mar óráidí ag treisiú an liobrálachais. Eiseamláir do lucht polaitíochta ins na Stáit Aontaithe ab ea é maidir lena shlite polaitíochta agus mar a mheall sé an gnáth-phobal chun páirt a ghlacadh i bpolaitíocht na tíre. D’fhág sé rian fé leith ar chás na nIúdach agus cás na mílte a bhí brúite fé smacht ag an sclábhaíocht. Dlíodóir iomráiteach ab ea é agus bhí baint mhór aige le cúrsaí gnó na hÉireann. Déanfaidh an Scoil Samhraidh an méid seo a iníuchadh, a scagadh agus a cheistiú.