Mr. Davitt's Death

The Connacht Tribune, Christmas Number, Saturday, December 8, 1928.

Painfully Sudden End of Popular Figure

Dr. Michael Davitt, whom Galway prized as a valued and beloved citizen for the past six years, was laid to rest in Glasnevin on Tuesday.

Dr. Davitt was physician at the Central Hospital, Galway, and clinical lecturer at Galway University College. His death, under circumstances that amounted to tragedy, caused a profound and painful shock in the city and throughout the West. On Thursday last he was apparently in the best of health and of spirits, performed his duties at the hospital as usual, visited his friends in the City, and practiced some songs for the Schubert — he was leaving his home at University — road to lecture early on Friday morning he was seized with a painful stiffness in the neck, which was at first regarded as merely rheumatic. Late on Friday night, however, it developed seriously, and the services of his colleagues were requisitioned. Dr. Mahon and Surgeon O'Malley remained with him throughout the greater part of the night. By Dr. Davitt's own request, one of the Augustinian Fathers was sent for and heard his confession. On Saturday he became worse, and Dr. Walsh, pathologist at University college was called into consultation. It was then seen that tetanus had developed for the second time within two years. Dr. Davitt passed away in the presence of his young wife, Father Downing, S.J., and some of his medical students at 6.30 on Saturday evening.

When Dr. Davitt underwent a severe attack of tetanus two years ago, he attributed it to an accident that had occurred when he was on a bathing expedition at Furbough. He was lifting his little son, Michael, over a wall when he accidentally scratched his chest on a rough and dirty stone.

The eldest of the three sons of the late Michael Davitt M.P., Dr. Davitt was born at Ballybrack, County Dublin, on May 23, 1890, so that he had only passed his 38th year. Educated in the Christian Brother's Schools, North Richmond Street, and Dun Laoghaire, he subsequently went to Blackrock College. He twice visited Oaklands, California with his parents, and received some of his earlier education there. He entered the old Royal College of Surgeons as a student two years before it became merged into the National University, and took his Degree of M.B. with first class honors. He also took the B.Sc., and thereafter served for a year as house surgeon at the Mater Misera??? Hospital. He then took up practice in England, and was for a considerable time attached to the Mile End Infirmary. Returning to Dublin, he was appointed visiting physician to ??? ??? Where he remained for two years. In 1916, he rendered invaluable ??? ???? Volunteers ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

In July, 1922, he was appointed physician to the Central Hospital at Galway, which had then been established on the most modern lines. During his six years in Galway his activities had been manifold, and he had won universal affection. He took a degree and University College. He recently presented a silver medal to the College Literary and Debating society. He was twice vice—present of the Galway Chamber of Commerce, and helped to organize the erection of the new disinfecting station at Galway port — a station which is regarded as one of the most modern of these islands. He has lectured frequently in Galway on public health, in which he took the deepest interest. He was president of the County Galway Cumann na nGaedheal, and much of the success of that party in recent elections was due to his persuasiveness and influence. He was nominated as a Government candidate for the Senate, and his election would have been announced the day on when he was laid to rest in Glasnevin. He was vice—president of the Local Government Officials' Association, and was to have been president—elect for the coming year.

In sport, he was a keen rugby and tennis player. He played for Bective in cup matches, and was regarded as the father of the Dublin University college Rugby Club, who won the Leinster cup in 1914, the year he was qualified. He was a popular and energetic President of the Connacht Branch of the Rugby Union.

His six years in Galway have been a period of unremitting labor, not merely in his own profession, but for the civic welfare of the community. On Saturday night week he attended a conference of Cumann na nGaedheal representatives in Galway. Mr. P. Hogan, Minister for Agriculture, and Deputy Sean Brodrick journeyed to the City for the postponed conference on last Saturday night, only to find that Dr. Davitt, their president, had died half an hour before their arrival. The Minister for Agriculture, who was a great personal friend of Dr. Davitt, was shocked on hearing the news.

At the last two General Elections, Dr. Davitt was pressed to become a candidate, and declined, but he rendered valuable services to the Cumann na nGaedheal Party in the West of Ireland. Last summer he accompanied the pilgrimage of Irish Americans, organized by the Mayo Men's Association of New York, to his father's grave at Straide, at which he urged that the Irish people should forget the differences and bitterness of the past and strive for peace amongst all classes. Dr. Davitt was the first choice for Cumann na nGaedheal deputies for An Seanad when the party panel of candidates was proposed.

At 5.30 on Sunday afternoon the remains were removed from Dr. Davitt's house, 1 University Road, Galway, to St. Joseph's Church, were they remained overnight. The Bishop of Galway presided at Requiem Mass the following morning, and a great number of priests attended. The funeral through Galway was one of the biggest ever seen, University Professors, students, nurses, civic guards, Chamber of Commerce, Rugby clubs walking in the procession, which was followed by sixty motor cars. The remains arrived at the Pro—Cathedral, Dublin at 8 o'clock, and the funeral, which took place to Glasnevin, on Tuesday evening, was attended by President Cosgrave and members of the Executive Council and Senate, and a number of citizens of Galway who had traveled to the city with the remains.

His Work for the Poor — Tributes at the Homes and Home Assistance Committee

Mr. E. Corbett, Co. C., chairman, presided at the monthly meeting of the County Galway Homes and Home Assistance Committee in the Boardroom, Loughrea, on Monday. The other members present were: Messrs. J. J. Leonard, G. Lynch, Co. C.; S. O'Connor, and J. J. Ruane.

Mr. Leonard proposed a vote of sympathy with the widow and child of the late Dr. Michael Davitt in their great loss. He said he did so from a humane point of view. The late Dr. Davitt was known to him personally as one of the most obliging doctors he had ever known, for no matter what hour his services were requisitioned he never considered the work too much nor the journey too great.

Mr. Lynch, seconding, said there was no doubt the class the committee were looking after that day was the class that appealed most to the late Dr. Davitt, who used his skill in alleviating their sufferings. The committee should most certainly convey its deepest sympathy to his widow and child in the great loss they had sustained. His death was also a loss to the medical profession and to the citizens of Galway.

Chairman: I am very sorry the occasion arises to have to associate myself with the vote of sympathy. I certainly agree with the remarks of the proposer and seconder of the resolution. Dr. Davitt was most painstaking and all that could be desired from the medical point of view. Galway has suffered a severe loss from the medical standpoint, and it will be, indeed, hard to fill Dr. Davitt's place either in the Central Hospital, the University College, or any other place where he performed the duties of his profession. I very deeply feel his death.

The secretary (Mr. J. J. Hanafin), on behalf of the staff, desired to associate himself with the expression of sympathy with the widow, and relatives of the late Dr. Davitt in the loss they had sustained. He was, a colleague of whom anyone could be proud.

The chairman then put the resolution to the meeting and it was passed in silence, all the members standing.

Loughrea Town Commissioners' Sympathy

Mr. P. Cahill, Co. C., chairman, presided at a meeting of the Loughrea Town Commissioners on Monday evening. There were also present: Messrs. M. Ward, M. Greene, M. Hynes, P. Duane, F. Divine, C. Coghlan, J.O 'Loughlin, and later Mr. J. Mulcair.

Mr. Ward: I rise on a very painful and regrettable occasion to propose a vote of condolence with the widow and relatives of the late Dr. Davitt — son of one of the greatest Nationalists Ireland ever produced, and as a mark of respect to his memory that we adjourn this meeting to a future date without transacting any business. — The Chairman, seconding, said he was thoroughly acquainted with Dr. Davitt, and to know him was to love him. He possessed all the traits of a gentleman and his death meant a loss to the county — a National loss and a loss to the University and to the Central Hospital in Galway.

The resolution was passed in silence and the meeting adjourned.