World champion boxer Katie Taylor has unveiled a headstone in Galway to honour the unmarked grave of an African-American heavyweight fighter.
Tom Molineaux escaped slavery to become a world class boxer before dying sick and destitute in Galway over 200 years ago. He died in 1818 at the age of 34.
Known as the slave who fought his way to freedom, Molineaux, was born on a plantation in Virginia to become America's first great sports star.
He went on to travel around Scotland and Ireland showcasing his skills and teaching fighting in places like Achill and Connemara.
He became down on his luck and fell ill before being looked after by drummers from the 77 regiment in Shambles Barracks in Galway city. The soldiers paid for his burial in an unmarked grave in St James Cemetery in Mervue, on the outskirts of the city.
There was a promise to erect a headstone in his honour and Brian Peters, Ms Taylor’s manager, funded the project after attending an exhibition in Galway City Museum to mark the 200 year anniversary of his death in 2018.
