#OTD in 1846 – Michael Davitt, known universally as ‘The Father of the Land League’, was born in Straid, Co Mayo.

25/03/2023.Reading time 2 minutes.

Michael Davitt founded the Irish Land League in 1879, a non-violent action group designed to help Irish tenant farmers who effectively had no rights in 19th century Ireland. The objectives of the Land League were “to bring out a reduction of rack-rents; second, to facilitate the obtaining of the ownership of the soil by the […]

#OTD in 1877 – Irish nationalist and Land League organiser, Michael Davitt, was released from Dartmoor Prison.

19/12/2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

“To all my friends I leave kind thoughts, to my enemies the fullest possible forgiveness and to Ireland the undying prayer for absolute freedom and independence, which it was my life’s ambition to try and obtain for her”. –Extract from Michael Davitt’s Will Michael Davitt was involved in a failed raid on Chester Castle to […]

#OTD in 1870 – Michael Davitt is sentenced to 15 years penal servitude for gun-running.

18/07/2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

The Father of the Land League and pioneer of social justice, Michael Davitt, was born in Straide, Co Mayo, on 25 March 1846 during An Gorta Mór. When Michael was six years old, his parents, Martin and Sabina Davitt, were evicted and their cottage was burnt down. Eventually, they ended up in Haslingden, near Manchester. […]

#OTD in 1906 – Death of Michael Davitt, “Father” of the Irish Land League.

30/05/2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Michael Davitt was born at the height of the Great Hunger in Straide, Co Mayo. At four, his family was evicted and forced to emigrate to England. He joined the Fenians in 1865, became organising secretary and was arrested in 1870 for arms smuggling. Released after seven years, he returned to Co Mayo as a […]