General Daniel Florence O’Leary was born Cork City in February 1801 – Considered a national hero in Venezuela, he is not much remembered today in the city of his birth, but that is about to change…  On Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th May, the General Daniel Florence O’Leary Association will host a number of events in Cork to commemorate General O’Leary.

On Wednesday 12th May at 1pm, H.E. Dr. Samuel Moncada, Venezuelan Ambassador to Ireland and Britain, will unveil a commemorative bust of General O’Leary in Fitzgerald’s Park. And at 3pm, the Ambassador will unveil an Honorary Plaque on Barrack St. at Elizabeth Fort.

For those who are unaware of General O’Leary’s story, here is a brief background:

In the years 1819 and 1820, more than 2,100 Irish soldiers travelled to Venezuela as members of organized Irish regiments. These soldiers sought fame and adventure in the armies of South America's Liberator, Simon Bolivar.

Bolivar dearly valued the dedication and experience of his Irish officers, so much so that he appointed a Kerryman, Dr. Thomas Foley, inspector general of his military hospitals; while Arthur Sandes, also from Kerry, rose to brigadier-general under Bolivar and had a street named after him in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador.  Bolivar owed his life to another Irishman, Lieutenant-Colonel William Ferguson from Antrim, who died defending the Liberator from political rivals.

But it was a junior officer from Cork, Daniel Florence O'Leary, who won Bolivar's highest esteem. After observing the young Corkonian in action, Bolivar made O'Leary his personal aide-de-camp. As a member of Bolivar's headquarters, O'Leary attained the rank of brigadier general and played a key role in plotting political and military strategy.

O'Leary's keen historical instincts, combined with his meticulous collection of war documents, earned the Irishman a place of honour in Latin America's history. His memoirs, published in Caracas by his son, Simon Bolivar O'Leary, fill 32 volumes. This extraordinary compilation of eyewitness accounts, correspondence and documents has proved an indispensable resource for every subsequent biographer and historian of the Independence period.  As part of the commemorative celebrations in Cork, H.E. Dr. Moncada will present the 32 volumes of O’Leary’s memoirs to the Cork City library on Thursday 13th at 10am.

Supported by The Office of the Lord Mayor of Cork, The Cork City Civic Trust, and Cork Vision Centre, these events are open to the general public and will offer an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating Corkman, General Daniel Florence O’Leary.