RSS
roots


Home Page > Roots > Barry McGuigan launches Irish Arts Center's 'Fighting Irishmen' exhibit in Northern Ireland
comment on article Make a comment
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail

Barry McGuigan launches Irish Arts Center's 'Fighting Irishmen' exhibit in Northern Ireland


Published Tuesday, June 2, 2009, 11:29 AM
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 5:40 PM

 

Bookmark and Share

The two fighters reenact bare knuckle fighting at the launch of the "Fighting Irishmen" exhibition in Northern Ireland
The two fighters reenact bare knuckle fighting at the launch of the "Fighting Irishmen" exhibition in Northern Ireland
Photo by Darren Kidd/Press Eye

Photo gallery of "Fighting Irishmen" launch in Northern Ireland: Click here

The Irish Arts Center of New York City has brought their hugely successful “Fighting Irishmen” exhibition overseas for the first time to Northern Ireland.

Some of the biggest names in Irish boxing, including Barry McGuigan, Paul McCloskey and Charlie Nash, attended the launch of “Fighting Irishmen: A Celebration of the Celtic Warrior” on May 28 at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, County Tyrone.

“Fighting Irishmen,” presented by the Irish Arts Center, Honorary Chair and long time supporter of the Center Liam Neeson and guest curator James Houlihan, was previously a mainstay in New York and Boston for three years. This is the first time the internationally acclaimed exhibition has gone on display outside the U.S.

Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan officially launched the exhibition in the award-winning County Tyrone museum. It features photographs and memorabilia charting the unique stories of Celtic Prizefighters from 1820 to the present day, including pieces from boxing greats such as John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey and John Duddy, as well as personal items from Liam Neeson’s amateur boxing career.

Perhaps the most unique item on display is the late, great Irish fighter Dan Donnelly’s mummified right arm.

Speaking at the exhibition’s Northern Ireland launch, Barry McGuigan said: “Love of boxing runs deep in Ireland’s veins and that passion for the sport travelled unabated to America with emigration. The exhibition is fantastic and clearly highlights boxing’s rich history from 1820 onwards. I’m thrilled to be part of the exhibition and think it is highly appropriate to have it displayed at the Ulster American Folk Park."

1 2 Next page >
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


Be the first to make a comment.

It may take several minutes for your comment to appear.


Click to learn more from DiscoverIreland.com.


Connect to IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

Welcome to IrishCentral!
Please provide the following information in order to create your account

Username:
E-Mail Address:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


Welcome to IrishCentral!
All we need is the following information and you will be part of the #1 Irish community in the US

E-Mail Address:
First select a unique username:
Username:
Now choose a password:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Thank you!

Just one more step and you will be part of the largest Irish community in America! Tell us a little more about you to start enjoying all the features of IrishCentral.

Additional Information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Zip:
Gender: Male  Female 
Country:
Degree of Irishness:
Household Income:
Level of Education:

Subscribe to our newsletters:

The Best of IrishCentral - Daily Newsletter
Special Offers from our sponsors

or
Skip

You can edit your information at any time, just go to "my account" when you're logged in.

Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password