Katherine Parnell, variously known as Katie O'Shea or Kitty O'Shea (1845/1846–1921) was an English woman whose affair with Charles Stewart Parnell eventually caused his political downfall. 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... Charles Stewart Parnell (June 27, 1846 – October 6, 1891) was an Irish political leader and one of the most important figures in 19th century Ireland and the United Kingdom; William Ewart Gladstone thought him the most remarkable person he had ever met. ...

She was born Katherine Wood, and had an older brother who became Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood.

Katherine has been generally known to history as "Kitty O'Shea". However, at the time she was known to her friends as Katie O'Shea. Parnell's opponents called her "Kitty O'Shea" for reasons which are slightly complicated, but basically because at that time "kitty" was a slang term for a prostitute. // Slang is the non-standard use of words in a language of a particular social group, and sometimes the creation of new words or importation of words from another language. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

Katherine first met Parnell in 1880, when she was already married to Captain Willie O'Shea, a Catholic M.P.; 3 of Katherine's children were fathered by Parnell. 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Captain O'Shea knew about the affair but kept quiet for several years, his reasons for filing for divorce at the time he did are a matter for speculation. He may have had political motives. Alternatively, it has been suggested that he had been hoping for an inheritance from Katherine's aunt who he expected to die soon, but the aunt obstinately remained alive. Although their relationship was common knowledge among politicians, public knowledge of the affair created a huge scandal and led to Parnell's being deserted by his own party, and to his downfall and eventual premature death.

However, Katherine and Parnell did marry shortly after her divorce from Captain O'Shea, and remained married until Parnell's death. She lived the rest of her life in relative obscurity, dying at the age of 75 or 76, and is buried in Littlehampton in Sussex, England. Map sources for Littlehampton at grid reference TQ1731 Littlehampton is a town in the county of West Sussex on the south coast of England. ... Sussex is a traditional county in southern England, divided for administrative purposes into West Sussex and East Sussex and the city of Brighton and Hove. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ...