A BELFAST PATRIOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19150, 16 October 1925, Page 14

A BELFAST PATRIOT.

LATE MR. JOHN T. DONOVAN. MONUMENT IN HIS HONOUR, [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, Sept. 10. Last Sunday,'at the Milltown cemetery in Belfast, a monument was unveiled to the memory of Mr. John T. Donovan, who for many years played a large part in the national movement, both in Belfast arid in the Imperial Parliament. On two occasions the late Mr. Donovan visited Australia and New Zealand as an envoy for the Old Irish Parliamentary Party, and he married Miss Ralph, daughter of Mr. W. J. Ralph, of Auckland. Mr. Donovan died on January ,17, 1922. Mr. Joseph Devlin, M.P., who was with ! the late Mr. Donovan in the Dominions, j unveiled the handsome memorial, and in the course of his address he said: " In all my experience of private and public life I have known few more lovable or more self-sacrificing and patriotic Irishmen than John Donovan, and I believe that to be the sentiment of everyone who had the privilege of his acquaintance, or who came in contact with his simple and charming personality. He did great work for Belfast and for Ireland, and he richly deserves a place in the historic memory of our time. " For years as journalist, organiser and orator he gave of his best to the public service, without one thought of self-seek-ing or reward. He became one of the best known and most trusted men in the movement, and it was not surprising that he was chosen as one of the envoys to Australia and New Zealand to raise funds to carry on the constitutional struggle in Ireland and at Westminster. The success of the mission far exceeded our expectations, and that result was largely due to the energy and the eloquence of John Donovan." Mrs. Donovan and her two children arc still living on this side of the world.