The Daniel O’Connell perhaps had another name prior, as the building was much older. The pub was named after the Irish born MP Daniel O’Connell, and liberal reformer, who often spoke on the rights of Irishmen. c.1844. He was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for the crime of sedition (inciting against the state). The Leicester Mercury reported that reformers, known as the Leicester branch of the Precursor, would meet at the Daniel O’Connell in Applegate St regularly during 1836, much to the disgust of the local Tories.
O’Connell was due to visit Leicester during 1836 to a dinner in the large hall in Wellington Street. He was then to address the people in the Market Square, banners were displayed as O’Connell had a large following in Leicester, unfortunately he cancelled at the last minute as his wife had been taken ill back in Ireland. The Tories made great play on this accusing him of chickening out on the visit due to the poor reception he would get, in fact the opposite were true as he had many supporters locally.
An 1849 Directory lists the O’Connell, as being six doors down from the Mitre and Keys in Applegate St, from Bridge St to St Nicolas Square.
THE GENEROUS DUKE
By 1852 The Daniel O’Connell had been renamed The Generous Duke with Robert Sutton the victualler. I can find little else on the Generous Duke, other than a theft by John Smith of Notts who stole some bread from Robert Sutton of Applegate in 1859, no name of beerhouse given.
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