Straide Penal Church to house Davitt Museum

Tom Kelly reports

The authority approved a grant of £40,000 towards the project. The eighteenth century church has fallen into decline over the past number of years.

When the building is restored following the investment programme, it will house 15th century altar-tomb carvings and material on the life and work of Davitt, who was born in a cottage nearby on March 25th, 1846.

Considerable work will be carried out on the church building before it is ready to house the Michael Davitt Museum which is presently located in a room in the local community centre.

The work will include a new roof, wall and floor structures, as well as the reinstatement of the pointed arched windows throughout the building and the gable door. New electrical, security and heating systems will also be installed. The rebuilt north transept will be used to display the carved stone altar tombs from the abbey along with panels on the history and significance of the abbey.

The south transept is being redesigned to accommodate two public toilets, and a small audio-visual area. The main nave of the church will be used to display the current material on Michael Davitt and the Land League, together with new interpretative displays.

The grave of Michael Davitt, who died on May 30th, 1906, is located in the cemetery behind the old church.

Meet Shortfall

The provision of a new museum in his honour in Straide would stand as a fitting tribute to him.

"It will also be a major tourism boost for the region."

Mr. Jim Maloney seconded the allocation of the grant. He said the proposal was an excellent one.

Mr. John Flannery said he was glad Michael Davitt was being remembered in this way in his native, Straide.

Mr. Johnny Mee said apart from his work with the Land League, Michael Davitt was an outstanding writer and was a founder member of Celtic Football Club.

"He had a great ability to bridge the urban and rural divide."

Mr. Pat McHugh, chairman, stated the project was a tribute to Sean McEvoy, Nancy Smyth and the Straide based committee.

Moves were also being made to commemorate Michael Davitt in a special way in Irishtown where a mass meeting was held on April 10th, 1879, as part of the agitation to reduce rents. The meeting led to the founding of the Land League in the Imperial Hotel, Castlebar, four months late on August 16th, 1879.

Bust in honour of Davitt

It will be unveiled by Mr. Pat McHugh, chairman, before the March meeting of the authority.

Mr. McHugh said it was appropriate that the bust should grace the front entrance of the council's headquarters. "Davitt was a great advocate of local Government," added Mr. McHugh.