This continued day after day for 35days, his hands were cut from the irons but even the prison doctor would not have any sympathy for him

After 14days of this treatment he was taken before the deputy governor. The sentence for the water throwing offence was read to him. He was to be kept in his cell and never left out for 28 days. He was to get 8ozs bread and 1pt water at 5-30 in the morning and the same at 6 in the evening and every fourth day he was to have dinner consisting of

1pt stirabout, 1 lb potatoes and ¼ oz of salt. He was allowed no books except the Bible. His clothes were taken away every night and given to him every morning. At one point they even removed his bed and he was injured by warders in their over use of force.

After this he had a talk with Captain DuCane, Chairman of the board of directors and conditions improved. He went to work again brick –cleaning and chopping wood. The jailers realised that more could be achieved by being kind rather than by punishment.

In November 1869 Rossa’s companions were John Devoy, John McClure, Burk, O Connell, Halpin and Mulleda. There was extra care taken of these. They were exercised in a different place. The reason behind this was that the Tipperary election was taking place and Rossa was a candidate. The Government was alarmed and even fitted extra locks in case he might escape. In spite of all this security, Rossa heard by secret lines of Communication that he had won the election, before the governor came to him one day and said “I am instructed by the Secretary of State to inform you that the Co of Tipperary has elected you a Member of Parliament.” His time as an M.P.was short. As soon as the result was announced the Government moved a writ declaring the result null and void, as a convicted felon could not sit in the House of Commons. Still the result gave them the knowledge that the people of Tipperary and Ireland supported their cause and this raised their spirits.

Rossa’s efforts to smuggle-out accounts of his treatment began to bear fruit. Two Irish M. Ps. George Henry Moore and Sir John Grey raised questions in the commons. The Home Secretary, Mr. Bruce denied any ill treatment. At last Gladstone and Bruce could no longer deny the charges, so a commission of inquiry was set up under Lord Devon. This commenced on 24th May, ended 20th Sept 1870. They held 63 meetings in all, 8 of them in Chatham. Some of the prisoners did not give evidence but Rossa did. He knew he could prove his case. Despite the perjury of his jailers, Rossa was proved right. The report of this Commission published in Oct 1870 was instrumental in the later release of the Fenian prisoners. Amnesty meetings were held in Ireland and England. Petitions were sent to the Queen and Gladstone.

On 16th Dec 1870 the announcement was made “Gentlemen. I have to inform you that her Majesty’s Government have carefully considered the case of the convicts now undergoing their sentences for treason and treason felony and that they have recommended to the Crown the exercise towards them of the Royal Clemency, so far as it is compatible with the assured maintenance of tranquillity and order in the Country. They will therefore be discharged upon the condition of not remaining in, nor returning to the United Kingdom”.

W.E. Gladstone.

Rossas wife came immediately to Chatham. Even though it was Christmas week, she could not get him out before the holidays. The popular choice of destination for the prisoners was either Australia or America. Rossa chose America, as he would not be living under the Union Jack. The meanness of the English was to be seen, as the Fenian prisoners would not be released until after the Christmas holidays.

On Jan 5th 1871 Rossa signed the “Patent of Pardon “ Rossa was free, taken to Chatham railway station. He went from there to Liverpool and then by Boat to Cork. There his wife and child met him. They went to America with him. They had 12 other children.

He remained there most of the time until his Death in 1915. He made 3 visits back to Ireland, the first in 1894 on a lecture tour, then in 1904 when he unveiled the “Maid of Erin” monument here in Skibbereen and he was also granted the freedom of the City of Cork. He came again in

O'Donovan Rossa

In America he engaged in many lines of business, Hotel keeping, Journalism, he wrote his “ Recollections, “Years in English Jails,” other Books and many articles. He never failed to condemn the British Government for their tyranny to himself, and in general, their unjust acquisition of the lands of Irish Chieftains.

While in New York he was shot by an English woman. She was proved insane and sent to a lunatic asylum but released quietly after a few months. The bullet remained in his body but didn’t cause any harm. He kept in touch with those who wished for Irish Freedom, he sent £50 to a fund to help his friend Brian Dillon, the Cork patriot on his release from prison.He knew that the British officers could not be trusted; he said that English propagandists could “Lie like Hell”.

The Catholic Bishops had a hatred for the Fenians. The Bishop of Ross at the time O’Hea refused to hear Rossa’s Confession. The Bishop of Kerry is reputed to have said “Hell was not hot enough nor eternity long enough to punish the Fenians.”

A letter from Most Rev Dr McCabe in Rome to Rev.J. Reynolds Longford Ireland read - Your letter received. “ Let all unite and prepare for contest, let no one be intimidated. I am more convinced than ever of the necessity of opposing Fenian candidates. No Priest is to sign the new amnesty petition.” In connection with the Fenian paper “Irish People” Dr Cullen Archbishop of Dublin wrote in Pastoral “That for suppressing that paper the public authorities deserve the Thanks and Gratitude of all those who love Ireland, its Peace and its Religion”.

This opposition to the Fenians by the Bishops of Ireland had the approval of the Pope of that time Pius ix.

In spite of the Bishops’ condemnation, when Rossa’s coffin was in the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin and Solemn High Mass was sung, there were Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, Passionists, Carmelites, Benedictines and Vincentians in the choir.

Before he died Rossa expressed a wish to be buried in Ireland, so on his death in St.Vincent’s Hospital, Staten Island, New York on 29th June 1915 his wife contacted Tom Clarke, to make arrangements for his burial. As soon as his death was announced an English newspaper published what purported to be a cable from its New York correspondent who stated he had a talk with Rossa every day and this was his dying message to the people of England.

“ When I die you might tell the English people, I have fought a good fight according to my views, and long ago lost all hatred, let alone prejudice against the British Government. I hope the Irish will stand united to-fight Germany, the common enemy of civilisation.”