Time for a statue to celebrate Davy Crockett (1786 – 1836) in Castlederg
On the 190th anniversary of the death of Davy Crockett, he preferred the name David it's a good time once again to call of a statue in his honour in Castlederg.
190 years ago David Crockett would give his life in the cause of freedom and liberty in the Texas Revolution, being killed at the Battle of the Alamo on the 6th March, 1836. How he died is still debated 190 years after his death with some reports stating he was killed during the battle or executed afterwards on the personal orders of Santa Anna as he would not beg for mercy to save his life.
What is not in dispute is that David Crockett was born on the 17th August, 1786 in a log cabin at Limestone, Tennessee, USA. He is remembered as a pioneering frontiersman, legislating politician and militia officer. Often being referred to as the "King of the Wild Frontier.” The location of his birth is now celebrated in the 105 acre Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park.
He was of Ulster-Scots heritage and the best evidence today points to strong family links back here to the Derg Valley and Castlederg in County Tyrone.
Today on the anniversary of his heroic death like the other brave defenders at the Alamo it’s an ideal opportunity to renew the call for a statue of David Crockett in the town of Castlederg. Such a statue would celebrate his Ulster-Scots heritage and reinforce his family links to the town. In doing so it will help to bring tourism and investment to the wider Derg Valley. Castlederg already has a residential area named “Crockett Park” in honour of the Crockett family and the addition of a statue will add to that legacy.
Bollaght Mountain close by the town of Castlederg in the Western Sperrins is part of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) that brings tourists from all over the world. It overlooks the Derg Valley and the town of Castlederg with some of the most stunning views to be found anywhere in Northern Ireland.
David Crockett was born in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, a mountain range like the foothills of the Sperrins that are part of the Caledonian mountains and I can think of no better place to celebrate the remarkable life of David Crockett in Northern Ireland than by a statue in Castlederg. A town that has the same geographical and family links uniquely in the one location to David Crockett.
Stevan Patterson Castlederg, County Tyrone.