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| Photo showing the unveiling of the Michael Davitt Memorial Plaque May 1956 Photo: taken from Haslingden Guardian May 18th 1956 issue (thanks to Jackie Ramsbottom) |
This shows a close up of the Memorial Plaque and area as it was from 1956 up until the 100 years celebrations - (Click over to enlarge)
On the 11th May 1956 was the
UNVEILING OF A MEMORIAL PLAQUE to celebrate MICHAEL DAVITT and erected on the site of his past home (from 1853 to 1867)
The memory of
the Irish patriot Michael Davitt was perpetuated in Haslingden on Saturday by
the unveiling of a memorial tablet on the site of his home from 1853 to 1867.
The
esteem in which he is held found expression in the support accorded the
ceremony and subsequent celebrations.
Approximately 1,000 people braved a strong wind to see Liverpool
barrister Mr. W. J. Loughrey perform the unveiling, which revealed the bronze
plaque centred in the specially constructed broken right angle corner
walling. A small flower bed was
immediately in front and below the tablet, giving the layout an attractive
appearance.
As
already reported, the plaque was provided by members of the Irish Democratic
League, Haslingden (Davitt) branch. They
sought the co-operation of the Town Council, who constructed the terraced
corner walling and laid out the site.
On
Saturday members of the Council and officials joined in the 500 strong
procession which, led by the Mount Carmel Pipe Band, from Salford, paraded from
the club by way of Deardengate, Pleasant Street, Bury Road and King Street to
the memorial. There club president Mr.
E. Davison acted as chairman, and the Mayor (Coun. W.J. Everett) extended a
civic welcome to the visitors
He described the
day as an important one in the town’s history and commented that three years
ago, when representatives of the club met the Council on the matter, he had
been deeply impressed with their sincerity of purpose.
He
knew Michael Davitt as a national figure and he welcomed visitors on behalf of
the people of Haslingden because he felt the townspeople would like to be
connected with the day’s ceremony.
The Pioneer
Mr.
Davison extended a special welcome to 73 years old Mr. John Bourke of 3 Grane
Street, who sat in an armchair close to the platform. Mr. Bourke was venturing out for the first
time in seven months and defied illness to be present. Pioneer of the idea of the memorial and the
writer of the inscription on the tablet, he had “just lived for the day.”
Mr.
Loughrey, who commented that he always regarded Haslingden as one of the most
hospitable towns in the country, said they were honouring one of their greatest
citizens and one of the greatest Irishmen of these times.
His life was
divided into two distinct parts his undying service to Ireland and his
unselfish service to the democracy of England. He was a great Irish patriot and
a great British reformer.
The
day his family were evicted from their humble home in Ireland he determined to
destroy for ever the landlordism which, in those days, was the most tyrannical
in the whole of Europe. He founded the
Land League in 1879 after serving penal servitude for his part with the Fenian
movement – the only organisation Irishmen could join. The League had as its object the destruction
of landlordism.
Shortly
afterwards came his association with Parnell, whom Mr. Loughrey described as
one of the great Protestant leaders of the Irish People. Davitt knew the destruction of landlordism
was necessary before he could get freedom for Ireland. In destroying landlordism be performed
the work he set out to do and, with Parnell, laid the foundation for the freedom
of Ireland – though he did not live to see it come true.
Exhausted
Himself
There
was, he went on, no platform in England of a democratic character (particularly
Labour) on which Michael Davitt did not exhaust himself in his efforts to
obtain freedom and democracy. Those
efforts, coupled with all he had gone through, took so much out of him that he
died in 1906.
Davitt preached
a definite kind of democracy. It should
not persecute nor terrorise, but be the free march of free men for the common
good. His name was a memory never to be
forgotten by the people of this country and the people of Ireland.
Among
the guest of honour was His Excellency the Ambassador of the Irish Republic,
Mr. Frederick H. Boland, who, on behalf of the Irish government, expressed
thanks to the Mayor and members of the Council for the facilities they provided
for the erection of the memorial and to the club for their initiative.
Not Forgotten
People
in Ireland, he said, would read with pleasure and appreciation of the ceremony
and would be grateful to know that the community in which Michael Davitt once
lived and in which he went to school, had not forgotten him or his work. He was not only a great Irish nationalist but
a great internationalist, and it was fitting that his memory should be
commemorated in Haslingden.
Irish
people, he went on, had found homes in many places throughout the world, and
although they always kept a deep love for Ireland, they also made a solid
contribution to the communities in which they had made their homes.
A son of Michael
Davitt, Dr. R. Davitt, a consultant physician in Dublin, flew over specially
for the ceremony, added his thanks to the Council and the club for the
memorial.
Referring
to his father’s accident at a Baxenden cotton mill, he concluded: If my father left his arm in Baxenden, he
left a lot of his heart in Haslingden.
M.P.’s Remarks
Member
for the Division (Mr. Tony Greenwood) commented that they had with them at the
ceremony the diplomatic representative of a free and independent Ireland which
embodied everything Michael Davitt stood for.
He
recalled that after losing his arm Michael Davitt went to work for a Haslingden
printer who was also the post master, and Davitt would be delighted that
attending the ceremony was a member of the Post Office who was also a member of
the Town Council in the person of Coun. Bernard Molloy – something which in
Davitt's day would have been almost undreampt of.
Tremendous
courage was the hall mark of all that Michael Davitt did throughout his
life. He had a love of the working
people and founded one of the first Labour papers in this country, and in
everything he did there was that genuine integrity that great sincerity and
wonderful courage which, one time and another, landed him in prisons in this
country.
A man who was
prepared to spend nine years of his life in prison for the things in which he
believed was a man of infinite courage and deserved to be commemorated in the
way they were doing that day.
Michael
Davitt, once branded by this country as a traitor was to-day an honoured name
throughout the world – as so many had seen the insides of prisons in various
parts of the British Empire, but in their lifetime had seen independence for
their people and held the highest positions in their countries.
Didn’t Live To
See It.
It
was a matter for great regret for all that Michael Davitt did not live to see
his country enjoy the freedom for which he had worked and struggled for so
long.
Thanks
to those officiating at the ceremony were voiced by Coun. Molloy and
seconded by Mr. G. Bourke and thanks to the Council were voiced by Mr. J. Flynn
and Mr. V. Butler. The Mayor responded.
After
the memorial had been dedicated by Father Knowles a wreath “In memory of a
great leader” was laid on the memorial by Mr. Davidson on behalf of the club
members.
Approximately
100 guests were entertained to an enjoyable chicken and salad tea in the
Co-operative Hall and a concert followed in the club at night which included
the following artiste: Ivan Dixon of Burnley (tenor), Jimmy Quinn of Blackburn
(ventriloquist and comedian), the Connolly Brothers of Bacup (versatile) and
Miss Barker and Miss Barbara Hopkinson (Irish dancers), Mr. Albert Hamer and
Mr. W. McGowan were pianists and chairmen were Mr. Davison (upstairs) and Mr. J.
Gorman (downstairs).
Each
member received a chit entitling him to 10 shillings of drinks during the
evening and the general arrangements for the event were in the hands of a
sub-committee comprising Mr. Davison, Vice-president, Coun. Molloy, Secretary
Mr. L. Gill, treasurer Mr. D. Feeney, and Messrs. T. Rowan and V. Butler.
Among
the principal guests were Ald. Hugh Llie, a former Lord Mayor of Manchester, and
Ald. Lee Wright, of Liverpool; and also present were representatives from other
clubs in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Federation, some coming from as far
afield as Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
(The above is extracted from the May 18th 1956 issue of the Haslingden Guardian which has been kindly contributed by Jackie Ramsbottom)
Michael Davitt's Memorial - March 1970
Also Celebrating 100 years since "Michael
Davitt" (12th April 2006)
when the President of Ireland came
to
visit Haslingden.
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| President of Ireland Mary McAleese unveiling the Irish flag to show the new inscriptions at the Davitt memorial on Wilkinson Street on 12th April 2006 |
It was buzzing! with police everywhere, and a good atmosphere was created whilst we waited to get a glimpse of the Irish President Mary McAleese and her entourage as they left the Irish Democratic League Club and make the short journey to the Davitt memorial on nearby Wilkinson Street.
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| President leaving the IDL on way to Davitts Memorial Click over photo to enlarge |
The Irish leader was in town to unveil a plaque and attend an exhibition in honour of the historical figure who lived in Haslingden with his family from 1853-1867. The visit was organised by the Irish Heritage in Haslingden Committee to celebrate the life of Michael Davitt, renowned as a leading figure in Irish history who rose to international political fame. The "People's President" was guest of honour at a civic reception hosted by the Irish Democratic League Club.
Whilst at the IDL Club, President McAleese told the audience there that "the fact they had gathered together 100 years after the death of Michael Davitt, showed just how strong his legacy was. She continued to say "He overcame the worst cruelty that life could inflict on any human being and he returned to Ireland to champion the land reform and completely changed Irish history. His work was key to the national regeneration and it was an extroadinary campaign which took phenomenal personal courage. I like to think that it was here (in Haslingden) that he learned tolerance. Many years later he came back to this town where he had grown up and they gave him a great reception. He loved Haslingden and he loved the people of Ireland and the two countries now enjoy their best relationship for 800 years. We now drink from the well that he dug and the IDL clubs are a direct continuing link to Michael Davitt and the Land League".
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| Police taking a well deserved rest Click over photo to enlarge |
At the end of Wilkinson Street there were several police motorbike riders who were parked up and taking a well deserved rest after they had escorted the President to the Club (see photo to right). There were lots of interesting people in that crowd that day including well know local historians, and a Reverent father who I had known for a decade or two who had travelled to be at the celebrations. It brought lots of people out who I had not seen for years and it gave some of us the chance to catch up. I took a few more photographs whilst at the memorial and will try and include them at the end of the blog or give a link to them.
Also among the dignatories on the day was the Ambassador of Ireland and also several direct descendants and members of the Davitt family who had travelled from all parts of the Country. There were lots of local dignatories representing historical, cultural, educational and political authorities.
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| President McAleese addressing the guest at the IDL Club. See Angus in the background. (Click over to enlarge |
She later left the IDL Club to go to her next appointment which was at the Haslingden Library on Higher Deardengate where she met lots of Haslingden Schoolchildren and also addressed around 90 invited guests about how important the Library had been to Davitt's career. Davitt studied Irish history in the town's Library after losing an arm at the Stelfox Mill in Baxenden. He went to a local Wesleyan School and was an apprentice at Cockcroft's printers, learning to become a typesetter and book-keeper.
His East Lancashire education would see him play a leading role in the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Land League of Mayo, battling the influence of wealthy landlords.
Davitt was the founder of the land league, which sought to help poor tenant farmers. The IDL club was formed in 1880 and was housed in several locations before settling in the Conservative Club which was in George Street in 1911.
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| Here is a copy of where President McAleese signed the visitors book on the day Click over to enlarge |
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| A photo of yours truly with the man who is the Davitt authority, Dr.John Dunleavy. The photo was taken whilst at the Davitt Memorial on that day by our mutual friend the Late Father Peter Knowles. (Click over to enlarge) |
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| The president leaving the Davitt Memorial. Click over to enlarge |
Also you may wish to read the Michael Davitt blog (1850-1870) by CLICKING HERE
