William O'Brien
O'Brien disagreed with the establishment of a southern Irish Free State under the Treaty, still believing that Partition of Ireland was too high a price to pay for partial independence. He wrote in 1923, "It is now obvious enough that, had the Irish Council Bill been allowed to pass in 1907, the Partition of Ireland would never have been heard of." Retiring from political life, he contented himself with writing and declined Éamon de Valera's offer to stand for Fianna Fáil in the 1927 general election. He died suddenly on 25 February 1928 while on a visit to London with his wife at the age of 75. His remains rest in Mallow, and one of the principal streets in the town bears his name to this day. His head-bust overlooks the town Council's Chamber Room and one of his finest portraits hangs in University College Cork.
Willie O'Brien
William O'Brien (born 26 January 1929) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Darlington. A centre half born in Middlesbrough, O'Brien began his football career as a junior with his hometown club, Middlesbrough F.C., and was on the books of Leicester City for the 1947–48 season before serving in the Army. He joined Darlington in February 1950, but did not make his first-team debut for more than a year, when he replaced the injured Geoff Stone on 17 March 1951 for a 4–1 defeat at home to Bradford City. He kept his place for the next Third Division North matchan even heavier defeat, this time away to Hartlepools Unitedbut that was his final appearance.