Master George O'Connor
by SHEE, Sir Martin Archer, Oil on canvas, 76 x 64 cm
The painting shows Master George O’Connor of Castleknock, (1778-1842) dressed in red with buff breeches, sitting in a chair.
George O’Connor was the son of the Rev. John O’Connor of Tipperary (1738-1803), who became vicar of Arboe in 1773, and Rector of Castlenock, County Dublin, in 1794. Like his father before him, George was educated at Trinity College Dublin, where he matriculated on October 6 1794 at the age of 15, proceeding Bachelor of Arts in the Winter Term of 1799. He did not take his Master of Arts until the Summer of 1838. He was received like his father into the ministry, and for more than 30 years was prebend of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He was the rector in succession to his father of the united parishes of Castleknock and Clonsilla in the Dublin Diocese, and of Donaughpatrick in the Diocese of Meath.