Davitt remembered by Mayo Labour

mayo | history and heritage | news report

Saturday May 27, 2006 19:25

by Cllr Keith Martin

A wreath was laid at the foot of the monument which marks the 2nd meeting of what would become the Land League, which took place there in 1879. It was at this meeting that Davitt and Parnell first addressed the public together.

Cllr Keith Martin, Dail Candidate Harry Barrett and Cllr Johnny Mee laying the wreath

Cllrs Johnny Mee and Keith Martin, Dail Candidate Harry Barrett and officers and members of Mayo’s Labour Party Branches gathered on the Newport Road on Saturday to honour Michael Davitt in this week which marks the 90th anniversary of his death.

A wreath was laid at the foot of the monument which marks the 2nd meeting of what would become the Land League, which took place there in 1879. It was at this meeting that Davitt and Parnell first addressed the public together.

Speaking at the ceremony, Westport Branch Chairman, John Tiernan, said “It is only fitting that we remember Michael Davitt here in Westport today. Davitt was a visionary who saw that there was a better way and who devoted his life to achieving social change and better conditions for the farmer and for the worker. It is only appropriate that as we approach the 90th anniversary of his death we remember him and his work.”

Labour’s Dail Candidate Harry Barrett spoke of how “the crossroads on the Newport Road and the Golf Course Road in Westport are the site of a pivotal and often overlooked piece of national history. It was at this crossing that the second meeting of what would become the Land League which took place on the 8 June 1879.”

“From the success of this massive meeting Davitt and Parnell went on to found the Land League of Mayo, in August 1879. It was at the Westport meeting that the farmers of Ireland were told to ‘keep a firm grip on your homesteads and lands’ by Parnell but today we must also keep a firm grip on our quality of life and the equality of opportunity for land ownership. In Mayo and all through Ireland there are too many young people who stand no chance of owning their own home. This must change” concluded Mr Barrett.

Cllr Keith Martin said land ownership was still an issue today and pointed out that before the Labour Party was established there was a Labour movement lead by men like Michael Davitt. “Michael Davitt was a labour leader in Ireland and Britain, and established a weekly paper, 'Labour World' to highlight the plight and views of the workers of the two islands. We should remember all aspects of the man's life on the 90th anniversary of his death” he said.

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Comments (10 of 10)

Davitt legacy : Golf course roads and home ownership?

by tom eile

Tue May 30, 2006 14:17

We should certainly remember all aspects of Davitt's life . Did Cllr Martin - as he stood on the Golf Course Rd - mention Davitt the revolutionary , Davitt the fenian ? " Equality of opportunity for land ownership" is the opposite of what Davitt fought for ;he broke with Parnell on that issue. Davitt called for land nationalization .

Glitter

by Trotwatch

Tue May 30, 2006 10:57

"Obviously only Ireland can be nationalised, however the sister-parties of Labour should also have nationalisation policies for multinationals. Labour will not do this. They are not a pro-working class party."

Dead giveaway. Its a Trot and a silly one. Its one of the terrible twins. He thinks that the Socialist International is like his International where one man sitting in an office in London decides policy for the Pakistani Section.

Yes, Nationalise Shell

by G. Glitter

Tue May 30, 2006 09:37

Mary says that Shell is a multinational and can't be nationalised. Obviously only Ireland can be nationalised, however the sister-parties of Labour should also have nationalisation policies for multinationals. Labour will not do this. They are not a pro-working class party. Mary should answer my question. What will a FG/Lab Government Policy be on Rossport? Kenny is a vocal supporter of Shell. Labour want him to be Taoiseach.

1 more than in Leitrim

by ray

Mon May 29, 2006 13:56

Well at least they have more labour members in Co. Mayo than in Leitrim, following the loss of 40 members in the party's two branches last month, the LP have only 2 members in the county. Another great achievement of Mr. Pat Rabbitte!

Labour in Mayo

by John

Mon May 29, 2006 13:38

Are the three lads in the photo the extent of the Labour organisation in Mayo?

Nationalisation of Shell?

by Mary

Mon May 29, 2006 13:18

It would be quite an achievment if the Irish government could nationalise Shell given that it is a multinational corporation operating around the world with it s headquarters in another country. Any particular reason why the people of Ireland would have a legitimate claim to the oil that Shell exploits in Nigeria?

Nationalisation

Mon May 29, 2006 09:42

Labour do not call for the nationalisation of Shell. They are hypocrites to say they back the Shell2Sea campaign. They are happy to have private companies making billions from natural assets. Labour in power will be no trouble for Shell and their big business friends. Enda Kenny is TD for Mayo, but is a strong supporter of Shell. What the hell will a FG/Lab policy be? Labour are desperate to get in with FF or FG so they'll 'support' anything.

Labour hosting Public Meeting relating to the Shell2Sea campaign

by Graham Ó Maonaigh - Labour Youth

Mon May 29, 2006 03:50

Visit http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75944
to view details of the Connolly Festival hosted by Labour Youth. The headline issue on the agenda is on June 17th in the Teacher's Club. Tommy Broughan TD, the Labour Party spokesperson on Natural Resources. Come along and make your accusations in person Thomas

--
Graham

Question

Sun May 28, 2006 23:31

Could someone please tell me what have labour got to do with Davitt. Maybe they see him as a hero as he started off for land agitiation then got sucked into parliament and turned rotten. Labour cherish that!

Hipocracy

by Thomas James

Sun May 28, 2006 13:26

Where are all these representatives in the real world. What a have labour done on the Corrib gas issue

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Davitt remembered by Mayo Labour

Comments (10 of 10)