British prime minister William Gladstone and the Catholic Church in Ireland eventually withdrew their support. Parnell married Kitty O’Shea in June 1891. Four months later, he died at the age of 45.At the annual Ivy Day ceremony in Glasnevin Cemetery, organised by the Parnell Society, the Taoiseach stated the relationship between Parnell and Kitty O’Shea was “no passing attraction”.
“There’s was a deep personal bond. They believed in each other and they supported each other in every way possible. They had children together and never considered anything but spending their lives together.“Katharine was a person of real ability and intelligence – trusted by Parnell to represent him in highly sensitive negotiations.”
Parnell’s vision was one of a progressive, liberal democracy, not one hung up on “extreme” ideologies of the right. “For Ireland, we had the great fortune to have a leader such as Parnell at that time which prevented our nationalism from becoming more inward-looking and exclusive.
'Kitty' was a derogatory term applied to Katherine Parnell. Parnell didn't call her that nor did she use that name, only her detractors. Maybe we should start there.