Maudabawn surgeon who was the face of the Belfast Mater
The British Medical Journal on 19 November 1927, noted with regret when it became known: ‘Sir Peter Reilly O’Connell has passed away on September 24th at Marseille, where he had gone on holiday. Peter O’Connell who was born in County Cavan, went to Belfast when a young man in 1883 after graduating MD, M.ch., RUI, and postgraduate study in Dublin, London, and the continent.’
I would like to say thank you to Carmel O’Callaghan who suggested the topic for this week’s column.
Peter Reilly O’Connell was born in 1860 in Maudabawn to Patrick O’Connell and Anne O’Connell (nee Reilly). Peter’s baptism noted that his mother was from the townland of Corlattylannan. In an article for Breifne in 2005, Jack Magee wrote that O’Connell was ‘reputed to have been a handsome, winsome lad, highly intelligent and with a predisposition for hard work’. He was educated at St Patrick’s College Cavan. His academic abilities were strong, and he enrolled at Queen’s College, Galway, in October 1879, to take up medical studies. His alma mater, St Patrick’s College, Cavan which opened in 1874, produced some 20 students qualifying as doctors and chemists its first 20 years.
In Galway, he lodged at a Mr Kiely’s, Upper Salthill, about a mile or so from the college. Jack Magee’s article mentions that the medical school at the college was ‘widely known and ably served, since its foundation by its well-respected teachers in preclinical subjects of anatomy, physiology and Materia medica’.
Facilities in Galway were limited compared to the training available in the Dublin hospitals where there were maternity facilities and better teaching practices. O’Connell had ambitions to become a surgeon and, to achieve this, he enrolled at the Catholic University Medical School, Cecilia Street, Dublin. In 1883, O’Connell graduated as a medical doctor, and as a surgeon (Master of Surgery). He worked at the Coombe for a period achieving a qualification in midwifery. Afterwards, he gained experience in London before working in Europe. Doctors away on the continent were able to see at first-hand new and innovative practices, which they applied when they returned to Ireland.
O’Connell was advised by the surgeon Sir Alexander Dempsey to consider Belfast where ‘the surge of increased population’ presented prospects for a working physician. Dr O’Connell set up a GP practice at 110 Donegall Street, Belfast. Having built up a strong client base, O’Connell was able to take up charity work with ‘various organisations including St Vincent de Paul’ and worked as a surgeon at the Mater Hospital, Belfast, alongside the surgeon sir Alexander Dempsey.
Shortly before his 25th birthday, Dr Connell became the Senior Visiting Surgeon at the Mater in 1885 in place of Dr O’Malley a ‘more experienced master surgeon’. In time O’Connell became the public face of the hospital to everyone in the community. He became a member of the Ulster Medical Society and moved his practice to the upmarket College Square North, referred to as Belfast Harley Street. Among his neighbours was Mrs Mary Hughes, a widow, whose father-in-law was described by Jack Magee as the ‘famous master baker who became one of the town’s merchant Princes and the first Catholic to become a member of the town council.’ Dr O’Connell would marry Mary Jane Hughes, granddaughter of Barney Hughes.
Like Barney Hughes, O’Connell became one of the only three Catholics ever to have been elected to the town council prior to 1896. He ran for Bishop Henry’s Catholic Association Party as a candidate in the Smithfield Ward. O’Connell on being elected pledged his support to improve areas mainly inhabited by Catholic citizens; while he wished to see an improvement in the health of all the city’s residents. He was to serve two terms with the town council during which time he was appointed to the Works Committee, the Public Health Committee and the Library and Technical Instruction Committee. It was said that his efforts were mostly directed towards training and education, and the ‘activities of the Library and Technical Committee’.’ he work which he did with the development of the libraries and training facilities for Belfast’s new industries were to bring him many awards.
In 1907, Peter O’Connell was sworn in as High Sheriff of Belfast for the year. His appointment, stated the Belfast Newsletter ‘reflects great credit upon the City Council’. In the same year, he joined the Local Government Board of Ireland, who met in the Customs House, Dublin, to discuss local government issues. His work with the Local Government Board earned him a knighthood, a Knights Bachelor, awarded for ‘his exemplary work in the Public Service’. He was knighted by King Edward VII on July 31, 1908, at Buckingham Palace.
Dr O’Connell then becamea member of the Knights of Columbanus, Belfast, in 1915 and was elected a Supreme Knight, holding the position for ten years. Four years later, he retired from both his medical practice and as a Consultant Surgeon. The O’Connells moved to Dublin, purchasing Oatlands House, Stillorgan, which had been the former home of Thomas Emmett, an uncle of the revolutionary Robert Emmet.
Dr O’Connell died in September 1927 as already mentioned, while visiting Marseille. He was laid to rest in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast, after requiem Mass at Holy Cross Church. His wife later made a presentation of £1,000 to the Belfast Mater Hospital to name a bed in his honour. Mrs O’Connell died in 1959, giving bequests to family and friends, while her remaining property, Oatland House went to the Bishop of Down and Connor, as the O’Connells had no direct descendants to pass the property on to.
THE COLLECTOR ATTACKED
In July 1837, a labourer in the employ of Mr Dawson, Donamine, Co Monaghan, was making his way home from Dundalk with a horse and cart laden with ‘coals and supplies’ when he found himself suddenly set upon. The bags of coals and other goods were taken and strewn about the road. The only cause having been assigned to the outrage was that ‘the victim’ worked as a ‘collector of tithes’ for Mr Dawson.