Many significant issues should be stressed. First of all, I was a bit confused about the Repeal Party which O'Connell had started. I would have liked more information about this movement and exactly what occurred as a result of the movement. In addition to more information on the Party, I would have liked more information as to why O'Connell dissolved his Repeal party.
The Repeal party tactics should be included more in the discussion. The illegal law courts were not discussed nor was O'Connell's police. The illegal courts were an underground forum for justice when the British law and order did not apply, or was not considered, by the Irish. O'Connell's police guarded secret meetings within the party and other functions which the party took as part of its jurisdiction and influence.
Also, I would like more information on the tactics of O'Connell's political activism. The author does not explain how O'Connell used his political influence to create change. The concept of constitutional struggle was completely omitted. O'Connell worked with the British constitution as a framework for further change. He respected the British laws and regulations while trying to change them. His ideal of "citizens not subjects", which supports the concept of the constitutional struggle, was also barely surfaced.
The paper was overall very thorough and did broaden my understanding of O'Connell. The first half of the paper was devoted to the upbringing and religious background of O'Connell. The religious background is very important to the life of O'Connell because religion played a large role in the non-violent nature of O'Connell, which has defined him in terms of other political activists. The religious nature of O'Connell also gave him a greater sphere of understanding and intellectualism. He was a very even keel type of person largely due to his religious understanding. The paper explored this the religious side of O'Connell very well.
The paper represented O'Connell in a favorable and unbiased light. Much emphasis was placed on the religious background of O'Connell. At times, O'Connell was shown as being too pious and too non-violent. True, O'Connell did espouse a non-violent means to political change but also was able to direct change through some serious diplomacy and political loopholes. The link of Ireland during O'Connell's time and modern day Ireland was not explored, either. In both the introduction and conclusion, the author mentions the lack of non-violent reform in modern day Ireland. These mentions were the only time modern day Ireland was discussed. The modern day political policies do not add much to the paper.
The major point of contention that I have with the paper is that the political realm, influence, and accomplishments of O'Connell were not addressed sufficiently. O'Connell was a political activist and deserves more examination of his political objectives and accomplishments.