Inspirational Quotes by John Boyle O’Reilly (Irish-American Journalist)

John Boyle O’Reilly (1844–90) was an Irish-American poet, journalist, author, and activist. A political escapee from Ireland to America, he was a prominent spokesperson for the Irish community and culture.

Born in Dowth Castle, near Drogheda, Ireland, he was apprenticed as a printer. He became a reporter for the Manchester Guardian. He joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood, or Fenians, and returned to Dublin, where he enlisted in the 10th Hussars in 1863. In 1866, he was sentenced to 20 years of penal servitude and transportation to Western Australia for spreading Fenianism in the army.

O’Reilly escaped in 1869 to the USA and settled as a journalist in Boston, where he became an author of songs and novels. He became a notable spokesperson for the Irish community and culture through his editorship of the Boston newspaper The Pilot, his prolific writing, and his lecture tours.

O’Reilly wrote the poetical works Songs from the Southern Seas (1873,) Songs, Legends, and Ballads (1878,) The Statues in the Block, and Other Poems (1881,) and In Bohemia (1886.) As a novelist, O’Reilly is remembered for Moondyne (1880,) a powerful and dramatic story of convict life in Western Australia.

In collaboration with other authors, O’Reilly also wrote the satirical novel The King’s Man: A Tale of To-morrow (1884.) His other works include Ethics of Boxing and Manly Sports (1888.) He was the editor of The Poetry and Songs of Ireland (1889.)

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