Council urged to support Davitt Museum development

MAYO County Council has been urged to make resources available to assist Mayo North East in developing a Michael Davitt interpretative centre, library and museum in Straide.

The animation and promotion of the teachings and ideals of Davitt should be adopted by the council as one of its main themes going forward.

In making the calls by way of notice of motion, Councillor Neil Cruise said: 'The Davitt theme runs right through our country, from Straide to Irishtown to Castlebar. It is an integral part of our heritage. There are many international dimensions to the Davitt story.'

He also suggested that Yvonne Corcoran, curator at the Davitt Museum, would be invited to give a presentation on the project at a meeting of the council.

In response to the motion, the council said it had signed a letter of undertaking with Mayo North East Leader Partnership to ensure €50,000 in department funding is used to continue the initiative until the end of 2021, supporting the employment of a cultural development officer. Other funding streams were also outlined.

At this time, consideration of making additional resources available would be premature. However, staff in the community section would provide assistance to all heritage institutions in Mayo, including the Davitt Museum, to realise their initiative.

Councillor Cruise said his motion was not about finance but support as they progress ambitious plans for a high-class interpretative centre.

The council needed to develop the whole theme and support the museum so it retains its full-time curator staff and adds to it, putting Mayo on the map.

They have been developing local and international links, with the Ghandi centre in India, and the children's land league.

There was broad support from councillors for the motion.

Yesterday, the Michael Davitt Museum announced that agreement in principle has been reached to twin with the Gandhi Museum in New Delhi.

Museum representatives were honoured to speak directly on Zoom to Gandhi's granddaughter, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, and Dr. Annamalai, director of the Gandhi Museum.

Proposals about collaboration will be exchanged in the coming months.