IT MIGHT be an unnerving experience for some to be greeted by the outstretched arm of a man who died nearly 200 years ago, but that's the first thing visitors see on entering The Fighting Irishmen exhibition at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, Co Tyrone.

The preserved right arm of Dan Donnelly, famed Irish bare-knuckle champion of bygone times, is just one of a fascinating range of boxing mementoes on display there until the end of November.

It includes a fur-trimmed overcoat that belonged to John L. Sullivan, a jacket worn by Jack Dempsey, robes belonging to John Duddy and Gerry Cooney, and Wayne McCullough's WBC bantamweight title belt.

Barry McGuigan performed the official opening and charmed everyone with his personality and willingness to meet every request for a photo or autograph. This man could give lessons to politicians on how to win friends and influence people!

"'The Fighting Irish' is a bit of a cliché, but it's more than that. Boxing is synonymous with the Irish and synonymous with success," the former Clones Cyclone told the large audience. "So many Irish emigrated to America, before and after the Famine, and we were a downtrodden people, with low self-esteem. Boxing gave us self-respect, dignity and made us famous."

Many well-known faces from the world of boxing were in attendance, including Charlie Nash, Hughie Russell, Davy Larmour, John McNally, Jim McCourt and award-winning coach Gerry Storey.

Current star Paul McCloskey, who is due to fight Souleymane M'Baye soon for the European light-welterweight title, marvelled at the sheer grit of those who had made their mark in times past.

"Fighters complain nowadays, but back then you could imagine fighting for a pat on the back and the suggestion that you would get paid next time," said the unbeaten fighter from Dungiven, Co Derry.

Visitors can enjoy film footage of fights involving greats like Jimmy McLarnin, Mike McTigue and Barry McGuigan, or put on a pair of earphones and hear the voice of 'Gentleman Jim' Corbett.

Sailor Tom Sharkey's pocket watch is there, alongside a toy stool he played with as a boy in Dundalk before emigrating to America and lasting 25 bitter rounds with James J Jeffries for the world heavyweight title in 1899.

If some ring historians think Gene Tunney wasn't much of a puncher, they should take note of the deep dents he left in his punchbag. The great man's well-worn sparring gloves are there, too.

Posters, programmes, photos, prints and newspapers provide stirring reminders of great names, none more famous than Muhammad Ali, whose ancestry on his mother's side has been traced back to Ennis, Co Clare.

The exhibition is the brainchild of New York businessman and fight fan James J Houlihan, who first put his plans into practice three years ago. He is rightly proud of his achievement.

"There was a similar kind of exhibit done in the Jewish Museum in Philadelphia called 'Sting Like a Maccabee' and a friend of mine suggested we do one on the Irish. It sort of went on from there," said Houlihan.

"We tried to design it along the lines of Irish storytelling and make it interesting to everyone, not just people who are Irish or who are interested in sport.

"Everyone understands the concepts of hard work and perseverance and reward after toil, and that's the story we tell."

3Further information on The Fighting Irishmen exhibition can be obtained from www.nmni.com or by phoning 0044 28 8224 3292.

Pat Myler's book on the life of Dan Donnelly will be published in September, coinciding with the showing of Andrew Gallimore's TV documentary on Donnelly on TG4.

- Pat Myler