Michael Davitt Museum lecture to explore connections between Davitt and Celtic FC

A RENOWNED Scottish academic and author on the history of Irish emigration to Scotland and its connection to Celtic FC will give a lecture in the Michael Davitt Museum this Monday.

Dr Joseph Bradley, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport in the University of Stirling will give a lecture on 'Irish-Catholic Immigration and Celtic Football Club in Scotland in the 19th and 20th centuries' in the Michael Davitt Museum in Straide on Monday, August 5 at 8pm. The event is free to the public.

Dr Bradley has written extensively on the subject on the impact the Irish population and Celtic FC have had on Scottish society over the last 100 years.

His recent paper, 'Celtic FC’s 1967 Lisbon Lions: why the European Cup victory of the first club from Britain was a defining moment for the Irish diaspora in Scotland' highlights the deeper social, cultural, ethnic, political and religious significance of the Lisbon Lions’ 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.

Michael Davitt had close connections with Celtic FC when it was founded in 1888 by Sligo-born Marist Brother Walfrid. He was chosen as a first Patron for the club and had the honour of laying shamrock grown in Co Donegal on the new pitch at Celtic Park in 1892.

Dr Bradley's talk in the Michael Davitt Centre will take a broad historical and sociological perspective and reflect on several momentous inter-related events and processes that ultimately gave rise to the founding of Celtic FC. As well as these events and processes, this talk recalls the central role in the story of Celtic of figures such as Brother Walfrid (Sligo), Michael Davitt (Mayo), John Glass (Donegal) and Willy Maley (Down).

“Celtic is a product of Irish Immigration to Scotland. However, and although there are many Celtic supporters across the island of Ireland, so many people there simply don't know this history – nor indeed, the place of Scotland in the story of the world-wide Irish diaspora. This lecture explores and explains some of the relevant dynamics that are critical to Irish and British histories,” Dr Bradley stated.

John Reid of the Michael Davitt Museum said he was looking forward to this free event which is a must for Celtic supporters in Mayo but also for anyone interested in Mayo's connection to emigration to Scotland.