Celebration of land league to take place at Michael Davitt Centre in Straide

Celebration of land league to take place in Straide


Anton McNulty

A SERIES of lectures on the Land League and Civil Rights will be part of the 130th Anniversary celebrations of the National Land League which will take place at the Davitt Centre in Straide next month.
The celebrations will coincide with the North/South Cultural and Historical Symposium official opening at the Davitt Centre which will take place on the weekend of November 6 and 7. The opening night, Friday November 6 will feature a lecture given by Patricia Grove, author of ‘Anna Parnell and the Petticoat Rebellion’, on Anna Parnell and the Ladies Land League at 8pm. Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr John Cribbin will also launch the photographic exhibition on the Civil Rights which is on loan from the Museum of Free Derry. Civil Rights is on the student curriculum next year, and this is an opportunity for students and teachers to view the photo exhibition.
On Saturday, November 7, a lecture by Dr Dominic Bryan of Queens University, Belfast , entitled ‘Transforming Conflict Flags and Emblems’ and a lecture by Dr Mary Harris  of NUIG  called ‘The Catholic Church and the Partition of Ireland’ will take place in the Pontoon Bridge Hotel at 11am. The session will chaired by Cllr Henry Kenny.
In the afternoon session which starts at 2pm, Rev John Farr from Antrim, will talk on ‘Personal reflections on the Orange Order’ and Senator Labhras O’Murchu will speak on ‘Music and Tradition’. This session will be chaired by Bernard O’Hara of GMIT, and each session will be followed by a question and answer session.
All are welcome to join in celebrating this important historical occasion which is organised by the Michael Davitt National Memorial Association.