Donnelly's Arm on the move again

Dan Donnelly's Arm is still on its travels, and after a very successful run as a keynote feature in the Fighting Irishmen: Celebrating Celtic Prizefighters 1820-Present exhibition in the Irish Arts Centre in New York last winter, is moving with the exhibition to the prestigious South Street Seaport Museum in south Manhattan.

The exhibition opens this evening, March 16th, with curator Jim Houlihan again at the helm in a collaborative effort between the South Street Seaport Museum and the Irish Arts Center.

The eclectic collection of boxing photography and artifacts is a veritable stroll down memory lane for fight fans and historians alike. Among the other artifacts and pictures on display are the legendary John L Sullivan's fur coat; a blazer specially made for Jack Dempsey; photographs from the archives of Sports Illustrated; Charlie Nash's Olympic jersey when he was fighting for Ireland; photographs of the classic Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti trilogy; and historic photos of such memorable Irish fighters as John L. Sullivan, James J. Braddock, Billy Conn, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Barry McGuigan and Bobby Cassidy, just to name a few.

The new and expanded exhibit will also include: a heavy bag from Gene Tunney’s training camp; equipment from current female fighter Maureen Shea, used for training actress Hilary Swank for the film Million Dollar Baby, and three original oil paintings from the Tunney collection by the artist Mahonri Young, Brigham Young’s grandson. In addition, visitors will be able to view video of historic fights during their tours of the exhibit.

Of course, certainly the most unique item in the exhibit –- the late, great Irish fighter Dan Donnelly’s mummified right arm –- will again be on display thanks to Josephine Byrne of Kilcullen.

The South Street Seaport Museum is located at 12 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038. Making the exhibit of even greater historical significance is that the South Street Seaport Museum is located along the docks on the East River, where Irish immigrants prior to 1892 (pre Ellis Island) first stepped onto New York soil, just a block away from the museum.

When the museum was restoring old seafaring buildings along the docks, a wall of Irish graffiti was uncovered, dating back to the Great Famine. It will also be on exhibit.

Fighting Irishmen: A Celebration of Celtic Prizefighters 1820-Presentwill run through December 31st, 2007.