Marking the Bicentenary of the famous boxing match.
Today a small crowd gathered on the Curragh at Donnelly's Hollow to remember the first National Sporting Hero, Dan Donnelly who defeated the English Champion George Cooper on that very spot 200 years ago.
Today we also remembered the Kelly family of Kildare and particularly Captain William Kelly of Maddenstown House who trained Dan Donnelly and brought him to the Curragh.
See the article in kildare.ie/ehistory
Students from Athgarvan School read the short newspaper excerpt at the monument - the first words to appear in an irish newspaper on that very date all those years ago. A lovely tribute, congrats and thanks to all -especially the Local Hsitory groups of Co. Kildare, particularly, Kildare, the Curragh and Newbridge; Brian Byrne of Kilcullen abd Derek Gallagher of Athgarvan, Deputy Martin Heydon TD, Paul Cooke and Raphael Ryan for their help letting people know, Principal Kate Gallagher and the students of Athgarvan School, Kildare Library & Arts Services and Tom McCutcheon and Kildare Town Heritage Centre for the beautiful wreath.
Everyone was delighted to see and hear author and historian Patrick Myler who gave a short address and answered questions. Even on a good day the Curragh can be a cold place and a few of us went back for a cup of tea after the event to Newbridge Library where Pat again joined us. We also wish Grave all the best as she works on a film on Donnelly.
It was a good day and I would like to think we did him proud by remembering Dan Donnelly today. No doubt the children of Kildare will be remembering him for generations to come.
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL AND DAILY COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER
NOVEMBER 13 1815.
DONNELLY AND COOPER.― The battle between Donnelly and Cooper, which has, for such a length of time, excited so much interest in the pugilistic world, was to have taken place on the Curragh last Wednesday. The Magistrates, however, interfered as well as the Turf Club, and would not allow it to proceed ― to the no small disappointment of many thousands of spectators, who had collected from this city and the adjacent counties; and who could not be persuaded, until a late hour in the day, that the conflict would not take place. The battle, however, was fought this morning at eight o’clock, at the Curragh.
Thanks to Paul Cooke for the contemporary image by Henry Brocas from the National Library Ireland online catalogue. It is always a wonderful place to visit and bring the kids.
James Durney (Historian in Residence for the Kildare Decade of Commemorations)
Blog: https://www.facebook.com/kildaredecadeofcommemorations
