Michael Davitt Museum is in a restored pre-penal church in Straide, just outside Foxford, County Mayo.
Michael Davitt (1846 - 1906) was christened in this very church and is now buried on the grounds beside the museum. He was the son of a small farmer who was evicted from his land and as a result, Michael founded Ireland's Land League in the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar in 1879. The Land League came to be one of the most important movements in Ireland's history. It sought to end the exorbitant rents and evictions and strived to make tenants the owners of the lands that they farmed.
The museum opened in 1984 and the opening ceremony was performed by Dr. Sean McBride. The brilliant initiative was driven by the local community, keen to highlight Davitt and his work, and cost in the region of £100,000. It houses a collection of artifacts and ephemera relating to Davitt’s life and work including documents, photographs, letters, postcards, and other items connected with his life.
Tripadvisor rates it #5 in the Top Ten Museums In Ireland and it is well worth a visit.
It is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30 am until 5.30pm. More information can be found on its website here. https://www.michaeldavittmuseum.ie/
