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From Castlebar - County Mayo - Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society
Mayo Historical & Archaeological Society.
In the late 1930's, a Trade Delegation, spear-headed by Sean Lemass, then Minister for Trade, which included local Senator John E. McEllin and Marcus Witztum (a Polish-born Jewish businessman who lived in Ireland) set out on a trip to the continent in search of businesses they might attract to Ireland. This was happening in a time of turmoil in Europe, when the Nazi Party was becoming a powerful force in Germany, posing a threat to world peace and threatening the extermination of the Jewish people. Despite these difficulties, the delegation was ultimately successful in attracting three industries to come and set up a ribbon factory in Longford, and two hat factories in Galway and Castlebar. The Castlebar factory opened in 1940, and an influx of Jewish people arrived in the town, and Blackfort, the area where the factory was situated, became known as ‘Little Jerusalem'.
On Wednesday, October 3rd, at 8 pm in the GMIT Campus Castlebar, Mayo Historical & Archaeological Society, hosts a lecture by Mr. Yanky Fachler, Chair of the Irish Jewish Historical Society, and author of several books on Jewish history and the Holocaust.
The talk entitled ‘Marcus Witzum - An Irish Schindler, The man who set up Western Hats in Castlebar'.
The speaker comes highly recommended and the talk will be of interest to all. As usual everyone is welcome.
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