Eviction in the West of Ireland
An eviction scene from west of Ireland. This is from the Illustrated London News, 19 March 1881.
Eviction in the West of Ireland
Eviction in the West of Ireland
An eviction scene from west of Ireland. This is from the Illustrated London News, 19 March 1881.
Growing Pains
Michael Davitt worked all his life for the right of Irish farmers to own the land they worked and for Ireland to be governed by the people of Ireland. He is remembered chiefly for founding the Land League, which over time brought an end to the injustices suffered by Irish tenant farmers. These included eviction, unfair rent and the lack of ownership of the land they tilled.
Michael Davitt was born in 1846 in Straide, Co. Mayo. He had four brothers and sisters. Ireland was experiencing the worst years of the Great Famine during Davitt's childhood. He was four years old when his family was evicted from its home in Straide. They emigrated to Haslingden, Lancashire in England.
Davitt went to work at just nine years of age. At the age of eleven, while working in a cotton mill, his arm was gruesomely mangled in a spinning machine accident. It was so badly damaged, it had to be amputated.
Davitt never received any compensation for his misfortune. However, some good came from the terrible accident. On his recovery, a local wealthy benefactor paid for him to go to school for several years. From the age of fifteen, he was employed by the local postmaster for five years. During this time, he attended evening classes in Irish history. He used the local library to learn more, and became very interested in the subject.
Michael Davitt was born in 1846 in Straide, Co. Mayo. He had four brothers and sisters. Ireland was experiencing the worst years of the Great Famine during Davitt's childhood. He was four years old when his family was evicted from its home in Straide. They emigrated to Haslingden, Lancashire in England.
Davitt went to work at just nine years of age. At the age of eleven, while working in a cotton mill, his arm was gruesomely mangled in a spinning machine accident. It was so badly damaged, it had to be amputated.
Davitt never received any compensation for his misfortune. However, some good came from the terrible accident. On his recovery, a local wealthy benefactor paid for him to go to school for several years. From the age of fifteen, he was employed by the local postmaster for five years. During this time, he attended evening classes in Irish history. He used the local library to learn more, and became very interested in the subject.