Reenactment of 1879 land league meeting

AN outdoor pageant is being staged in the village of Irishtown next Saturday night to mark the village’s connections with the founding of the Irish Land League.

Irishtown is known as the 'Cradle of the Land League' after the first massive meeting of tenant farmers took place in the village near Claremorris on April 20, 1879, and was attended by up to 20,000 people.

Members of the Irishtown Drama & Heritage Group will present their new historical pageant as darkness falls on Saturday.

The pageant will be set in the authentic famine village of Parkatubber and along the old famine road with the story being presented through drama, music and dance.

 The event is being held as part of National Heritage Week.