michael davitt museum

The Michael Davitt Museum and the adjoining community centre were opened on 23 April 2024 in Straide to honour its native son, Michael Davitt, founder of the National Land League, politician and one of Ireland's greatest patriots.
Michael Davitt (1846-1906) was the founder, chief organiser and inspiring genius of the Land League, the biggest mass movement in modern Irish history, which transformed tenant-farmers into owner-occupiers by constitutional means. When Michael was four years old, he saw his family evicted from their home in Straide because they were unable to pay the rent which had accumulated during the Great Famine.
During an extraordinary life, he became a Member of Parliament for South Mayo, a founding patron of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the author of five books, a Labour leader, and always a champion of the marginalised in society world-wide. He is buried in the adjoining cemetery where a Celtic Cross marks his grave.
The museum contains an extensive collection of letters, documents, photographs and personal items relating to Davitt, together with copies of the books written by him and about him as well as many banners, posters and other memorabilia dealing with the Land League.