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.
William David O'Brien
His first assignment was as a curate at St. Basil's Church on 1850 Garfield Boulevard, where he remained for four years. In 1907, he was named assistant to Monsignor Francis Kelley, director of the Catholic Church Extension Society. In addition to his duties with the Extension Society, O'Brien became pastor of St. John's Church on 100 W. 18th Street in 1924. He was named a papal chamberlain in 1924, and raised to the rank of domestic prelate in 1926. He was the first priest to receive papal honors from the archdiocese's first cardinal, George Mundelein. He became president of the Extension Society in 1925, after Monsignor Kelley was appointed Bishop of Oklahoma. As president, he also served as editor of the monthly "Extension Magazine".