Immortalised by Joyce in the Nausicaa episode of Ulysses imparting benediction at the Star of the Sea Church in Sandymount on Bloomsday, June 16th, 1904, John Canon OâHanlon (1821-1905) was a noted historian and writer of 19th-century Ireland.
Best remembered for his monumental Lives of the Irish Saints, OâHanlon was also the author of numerous scholarly articles and 25 books, such as Irish-American History of the United States, History of the Queenâs County, Irish Local Legends, and The Poetical Works of Lageniensis.
Born 200 years ago on April 30th, 1821, OâHanlon grew up in Stradbally, Co Laois. He was educated locally in Stradbally and for a time in Ballyroan, before entering St Patrickâs College, Carlow, in 1840 as a seminarian.