Ireland 1929 Catholic Emancipation Commemorative

Ireland · 1929 · 2d

This stamp commemorates the centenary of Catholic Emancipation in Ireland. The central design features a portrait of Daniel O'Connell, the Irish political leader known as 'The Liberator', who was instrumental in the campaign for Catholic rights. The stamp is inscribed 'Fuascailt na gCaitliceach 1829' (The Emancipation of the Catholics 1829).

Issued by the Irish Free State, this was Ireland's first commemorative stamp. It marked the 100th anniversary of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, which removed most of the remaining legal restrictions on Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom, of which Ireland was then a part.