Olivia Knight

Olivia Mary Knight was born probably on 29 September 1828 in Rathbawn, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland.

Knight attended school locally, and later claimed to have developed her "thirst of information and reading" from her mother.

Her father died when Knight was young, and the family moved to Tucker Street, Castlebar.

Knight's translations were primarily works of fiction, such as short stories in historical settings and contemporary fables on relevant topics including freedom of speech.

[2] In 1859, Knight was offered a position in the proposed Catholic teacher training school in Brisbane, Australia by Bishop James Quinn.

Knight met Thomas Hope Connolly a journalist[5] from Ballintogher, County Meath aboard the ship, and they married in 1869 at Rockhampton, Queensland.

She was appointed head teacher of Girls' National School of Rockhampton, transferring to Toolburra in June 1879.

[1] Knight published less in Australia, but did contribute some poems and possibly a number of anonymous translations to Australian magazine and newspapers.

Encouraged by her life-long friend Charles Gavan Duffy, Knight published a volume of poetry entitled Wild flowers from the wayside (1883), which he edited and wrote an introduction for.

Obituaries to Knight were published in Ireland and Australia, one calling her a "patriot-poetess", and some of her poems were reprinted in a number of papers, including 'A prayer to St Patrick' and 'The green flag'.