Land League village is still a beacon in Ireland

A large crowd turned out in Irishtown in South Mayo on Easter Monday for the official launch of Briathra Talún / Words from the Land - a series of twelve sculptures created by artist Noah Rose. 

The sculptures were unveiled by Fianna Fáil Cllr Damien Ryan, the Cathaoirleach of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District of Mayo Co Council.

The event took place in Páirc a’ Tobair, a key community space in the village, and was attended by members of the Irishtown Community Development Company, local residents, staff from Mayo County Council, and members of the Mayo Arts Service.

Speaking at the launch, Cllr Ryan reflected on the importance of the occasion, noting the deep historical connections of Irishtown, particularly to the Land League movement and the landmark Irishtown meeting of 1879.

“It’s symbolic and historic that, 146 years later, we gather here in Irishtown again, this time to celebrate a new kind of expression,” he said. “The significance of this village in Irish history cannot be underestimated. Today’s event not only honours that history but adds a new layer to how we reflect and remember.”

Cllr Ryan expressed his appreciation to those who helped bring the project to fruition, including artist Noah Rose, the Irishtown Community Development Company, the Mayo Arts Service, and staff of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District. He welcomed the attendance, which included Aoife O’Toole and Anne-Marie McGing from the Arts Office of Mayo Co Council, along with Director of Services, Tom Gilligan, County Librarian Austin Vaughan and Cllr Alma Gallagher.

“This project is a great example of collaboration between artist, community, and local authority,” he said. “It’s thanks to the dedication of all involved that we are standing here today.” 

Cllr Ryan praised the contribution of the Mayo Arts Service and underlined the importance of continuing support for the arts at a local level.

“The work done by the arts team in Mayo County Council is fantastic and cannot be underestimated,” he said. “The arts were never more important than they are now. In uncertain times, they provide a valuable outlet for reflection, creativity and connection. It’s crucial that they are supported both in spirit and financially.” 

The installation, Briathra Talún / Words from the Land, was funded through the Per Cent for Art Scheme, a programme that allows a percentage of the cost of public infrastructure projects to be allocated to the commissioning of new works of art.

Cllr Ryan said the sculptures were a fitting addition to the growing collection of public artworks across Mayo and would contribute to the cultural and visual identity of Irishtown.

“This is a meaningful piece of work,” he said. “It tells a story and roots itself in the land and the community. I’ve no doubt it will be enjoyed by local residents and visitors, young and old, for many years to come.” 

He described the work as a continuation of Irishtown’s legacy - a place where people have gathered historically for social and political purposes and now for cultural expression.

“It’s a great day for the village, and a proud moment for all involved,” he said. “Noah Rose has created something truly special, and it’s a privilege to be here to officially launch this project.” 

Cllr Ryan concluded by formally announcing the launch of Briathra Talún / Words from the Land sculpture series and extended his thanks to all those who helped bring the project to completion.

Fine Gael Cllr Alma Gallagher said she has been a long-time admirer of the Irishtown community and its can-do attitude.

“The village is a great example of intergenerational living,” Cllr Gallagher told the Western People. “There’s a childcare centre here, a well-run social housing scheme, a strong community centre and a very active Tidy Towns group. It embodies everything that makes a rural village work. So I’m here today to support them and the launch of the artistic features that they have added to the park.” 

Cllr Gallagher acknowledged the work involved in bringing the sculpture park to completion.

“There’s a lot that goes into planning, procuring, securing funding, and commissioning a piece of public art,” she said. “I’m proud to support this community and to be here for this launch.” 

Cllr Gallagher said her engagement with the village has been consistent.

“I’ve been invited here many times, even before the election, to hear about the priorities the community has set for itself,” she said.

These, she noted, include improvements to the streetscape, improving lighting, securing additional funding for Tidy Towns efforts, and ongoing concerns around road safety.

“Speed limits on the main road have been raised regularly with me,” she said. “I’ve worked on those issues since being elected, and I’m glad to have been able to help move them forward.” 

Tom Gilligan, Director of Services with Mayo Co Council, said it was great to see such a huge turnout for the unveiling.

“There's a great buzz about the place,” he said. “I was here a couple of weeks ago when they launched the Community Futures Programme. There's a great community in Irishtown, and it's great to be here today to see this project come to fruition and to support the community.” 

Community activist, Billy Freely, said that the 12 pieces of artwork located around the track tell the story of the famous meeting which was instrumental in the formation of the Land League.

“We had a bit of money left over from the housing project that we did, and that had to go into art, and this was the option we went with after the tendering process,” Mr Freely explained. “Artists made their submissions and this was the one we liked best.” 

Mr Freely said 12 artists had tendered for the project.

“They could suggest whatever they wanted and we went with what you see here today. This park is steeped in history. It's owned by the community. It was bought a number of years ago and it has got a Famine road running through it, like the ones constructed during Famine time. We have the ruins of two houses. There were nine originally before the Famine. We have a holy well and a Mass Rock. This artwork greatly enhances our project.” 

Artist Noah Rose explained the basic idea behind his pieces and the research that informed the different elements of the design and the processes that made it.

“The pieces are a representation of newspaper reports of the tenant rights meeting that took place in the village on April 20, 1879,” Mr Rose explained. “I used Corten steel for the columns, with laser-cut quotations in Irish and English from newspaper archives, with an accompanying artist publication.” 

Dr Andrew G Newby, senior lecturer in Transnational and Comparative History at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, gave a historical perspective on land ownership and tenancy issues in Ireland of the 19th century.

He said that even though April 20th, 1879, was a wet day, it didn’t dampen the gathering’s spirits or enthusiasm.

“There’s no Irish word for ‘landlord’," he said, “and even though there are a number of ‘Irishtowns’ scattered throughout the country, Irishtown, Co Mayo, is the definitive one.” 

The original Irishtown meeting is widely regarded as the catalyst for the formation of the Land League of Mayo later that summer. The protest was sparked by threatened evictions on the Bourke Estate and quickly evolved into a larger movement to challenge landlordism and fight for tenant rights.

Behind the scenes, the meeting was driven by a coalition of local activists, including Connaught Telegraph editor, James Daly, along with Matthew Harris and John O’Connor Power MP. Daly played a central role in organising the event, using the newspaper as the hub for publicity and coordination.

The initial idea was simple: hold a large public gathering to protest the evictions and highlight broader issues affecting tenant farmers - unaffordable rents, poor harvests, falling prices, and reduced seasonal work in Britain. The meeting was originally scheduled for February 1879, but on the advice of Michael Davitt, who had just returned to Mayo, it was deferred to April to allow time for greater preparation and to attract wider attention.

With three key resolutions - on tenant rights, land ownership, and fair rent - the Irishtown meeting drew between 7,000 and 15,000 people and sent a powerful message. It marked the beginning of a coordinated, organised resistance that would lead to major reforms in Irish land law and ultimately the decline of landlordism in Ireland.

Páirc a’ Tobair is a superb, community-driven commemoration of the meeting, and of the life and times of the people of the area. The park is open all year round and there is no admission charge. The sculptures add to the cultural and historical capital of the amenity. The community staged a pageant a number of years ago, dramatising the meeting, and plans to do an even bigger one in the near future.

In 1879, Irishtown was a beacon to the rest of Ireland. It remains so, today.