General O’Leary (1801-1854), a native of Cork, served with distinction as an army officer in the Latin American Wars of Independence and rose to become aide-de-camp to The Liberator, Simón Bolívar. He married Soledad Soublette, a sister of his colleague, General Carlos Soublette, later President of Venezuela (1837-39; 1843-47). From 1834 to 1840, he played a leading role in Venezuelan diplomatic missions to London, Paris, Madrid and Rome. O’Leary died in Bogotá (Colombia), but in 1882 his remains were transferred to Caracas and interred, close to those of Bolívar, in the National Pantheon.

A highlight of the Ambassador’s visit to UCC was the viewing of items, including geological specimens, presented by General O’Leary to the then Queen’s College Cork during his second visit home in 1852. Also on display was a copy of O’Leary’s Memorias [Memoirs] - a major primary source of information about the Latin American Wars of Independence – in an edition issued to commemorate the bicentenary of Bolívar’s birth and presented to the University Library in 1982 by one of Dr Moncada’s predecessors.

In the afternoon, the Ambassador unveiled a bust of General O’Leary in Fitzgerald’s Park, and, later, a commemorative plaque at Elizabeth Fort close to the General’s birthplace in Barrack Street.

It is hoped that the Ambassador’s visit will serve to revive interest in this distinguished, but neglected native of Cork.

Pictured with UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy were: Standing L-R: Stephen Boyd, Department of Hispanic Studies, UCC, Aidan Coakley, Gerald Lynch, Graham Clarke, Natalie Rivas Escobar, Secretary to Ambassador, Richard Lynch, President, O’Leary Association, Gearoid O’Mannan, Chairman, O’Leary Association and Billy MacGill. Seated L-R: Peter O’Leary, descendant of General O’Leary, Dr Michael Murphy, President, UCC, Ambassador of Venezuela H.E. Dr Samuel Moncada and Michael O’Leary.

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