He was a widower with 3 children when he married Ellen Tuohy, O'Connell's mother and a Catholic.

Daniel was fearful of being disinherited by his uncle Maurice "Hunting Cap" O'Connell if he married a bride without a dowry, and insisted on keeping their relationship a secret.

[1] Daniel O'Connell bought a home on Merrion Square, Dublin in 1809 against his wife's wishes.

As Daniel O'Connell's participations in the emancipation movement increased, he was away from his family for longer.

She told friends that this was also to improve her health, but it was in fact due to economic necessity.

A scandal appeared in 1832, when a pamphlet was published by Ellen Courtenay stating that Daniel O'Connell was the father of her illegitimate son.

Despite her poor health, O'Connell joined her husband on a political tour in England in April 1836 to offset the negative coverage.

Her correspondence is held as part of the O'Connell collection in the National Library of Ireland and in the University College Dublin Archives.