History of Liscannor

0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"" lang="EN-US">He retired 1857 and died the same year. Various local memoirs tell of Cornelius O’Brien’s conversion to Catholicism but nowhere is there confirmation of this. After lying in state before the front door of Birchfield House, his coffin was taken to St. Brigid’s Cemetery followed by thousands of mourners in a mile-long funeral procession. Here the burial rites were read by his great friend, Most. Rev. Dr. Fallon, Bishop of Kilfenora. Then the remains were laid to rest in a temporary tomb pending the completion of the family vault.

Local recollections of Cornelius O’Brien hold no hint of kindness or generosity. However records of the time are more favorable. The Lewis Topographical Dictionary, 1837, refers to Birchfield – “The residence of Cornelius O’Brien who has much improved his estate and the condition of his tenantry by the erection of neat slated cottages and farm buildings and by other judicious arrangements; - a holy well dedicated to St. Brigid and much resorted to by the peasantry, which, at Mr. O’Brien’s expense, has been surrounded by tasteful plantations and rustic seats.” Nowhere is it mentioned of the rack-renting and evictions so common in other parts of Clare. O’Brien’s work for the poor is praised by Rev. J. Sheehan, P.P., Ennistymon and the Clare Journal paid this tribute to him in his obituary: -

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