Liam Kelly
THE Michael Davitt Museum in Mayo has recently published a brilliant comic book on the life of Davitt, beautifully illustrated by artist Maeve Clancy.
Naturally, Celtic are given many honourable mentions as Michael Davitt laid the first sod of turf at the new Celtic Park in 1892.
Davitt was a colourful character who dedicated his life to radical politics, both in terms of the cause of Irish freedom and to take on landlords, standing up for evicted tenants.
A member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, Davitt was convicted for gun-running and sentenced to seven years in a Dartmoor prison. He also served time in Portland.
In Celtic’s inaugural year, he was named the club’s Patron—the second man to be given the role after Archbishop Charles Eyre.
Davitt played an immense role in the identity of Celtic Football Club. He was a character in the mould of Gerry Adams or Martin McGuinness at the time and thus his presence as Patron said everything about what the club stood for. Meanwhile, he had many political connections and partnerships with Celtic’s founding fathers in Glasgow, as well as the Highland crofters.
Davitt also led the speeches at the Irish Race Convention in 1896, which was held to plan a way forward for the cause of Irish Home Rule. Celtic were the only sporting delegation represented at that event.
To read more about Davitt’s fascinating life, which made him one of Ireland’s greatest patriots, you can view the comic by visiting: https://www.michaeldavittmuseum.ie/michael-davitt-comic
If you would like to order a print copy (£10 for copies sent to the UK), then you can do so by e-mailing: davittmuseum@gmail.com or by calling Yvonne on 00 353 87 067 5251
