National Famine Commemoration - Drogheda 2012 - Connections to Mayo

One of the most significant aspects of Drogheda's involvement with the Great Famine is

that so many of those who emigrated through Drogheda Port were not from this area at all. Some 70,000 people left Drogheda for Liverpool in 1847 alone. Many of these people had travelled from the West of Ireland, including County Mayo. Newspaper reports at the time spoke of many extreme cases including one of a family of four from the Ballina area who arrived in Drogheda having been three weeks on the road. However, the long journey, coupled with lack to food, had taken it's toll and sadly, the two children collapsed and died on Shop Street in the centre of Drogheda. The newspaper went on to say that "this is but one of the innumerable cases of destitution witnessed amongst the crowds daily arriving here from the West."

The Drogheda Famine Commemoration Committee was anxious from the start to recognise and remember all of the people who traveled from the West of Ireland, including Mayo, endeavouring to escape the ravages of Famine and leave Ireland to seek a better life abroad. Throughout our week of Famine Commemoration Events, we will touch time and time again on this theme. The story of the unfortunate family from Ballina is being used as one of our readings in the National Famine Commemoration Event on The Mall on the afternoon of Sunday, 13 May. The Mayor, Councillor Kevin Callan will read this moving and poignant description of a fate that no doubt was seen many times on the streets of Drogheda as the Famine ravaged our country. "The Departure" is a symbolic re-enactment of the story of our Ballina Family in 1947, the story of the exodus from Mayo as a result of an Gorta Mor. The walk takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 7 May in Belleek Wood on the outskirts of Ballina and will include a visit to the Famine Wall.

The tree to be planted by An Taoiseach on 13 May will be presented by the Mayor of Ballina to the Mayor of Drogheda during The Departure walk in Belleek Wood, in memory of the many people who traveled from Mayo to Drogheda Port. As the tree from Ballina is planted we will be joined the walkers from "The Arrival" walk along the River Boyne from Oldbridge House to Drogheda which continues our symbolic

re-enactment of the story of our Ballina family. On their arrival they will be greeted by performers from the Little Duke Theatre in ragged costumes. We also hope to be joined on the 13 May for the main National Commemoration Ceremony by the Mayor of Ballina.

Cultural and Heritage Events for Children

To introduce our local children to the legacy of An Gorta Mor, a series of cultural events will take place focusing on the place of the great Famine in their heritage.
See image below for programme details.

The National Commemoration Ceremony will take place on May 13th- All Welcome

Details of Full Programme of Events

The 2012 National Famine Commemoration will take place at North Quay at the port 
of Drogheda, County Louth on Sunday, 13th May at 2.30pm.

A programme of talks and events has been organised for the week leading up to the

ceremony. The programme illustrates the historical aspects of the Famine in Ireland,

through History, Song, Drama and Music and highlights the role of Drogheda as a

major port in the mass emigration from Ireland at that time.

There will be no cover charge for any of the events taking place from 28th April to 13th

May, with the exception of the recreation of the soup kitchen. Donation boxes

will be located at some of the venues.

DROGHEDA LIBRARY FAMINE COMMEMORATION

Drogheda Library will hold an informative

exhibition on aspects of the Great IrishFamine.

The exhibition will run from May 1st to May 31st 2012.

The exhibition will run during library opening hours.

Dé Sathairn 28ú Aibreán / Saturday 28th April

MAKING HUNGER HISTORY: LOCAL

HEROES IN FARAWAY PLACES.

Organised by the Charity GORTA. Free

places will be allocated on a first come,

first served basis, so book immediately by

emailing rsvp@gorta.org or calling 016615522.

Speakers include Brendan Rogers (Irish

Aid), The Medical Missionaries of Mary & St. Joseph’s C.B.S.

Time: 2:30p.m.

@ Westcourt Hotel, West St., Drogheda

Dé Máirt 8ú Bealtaine / Tuesday 8th May

THE FAMINE EXHIBITION

Highlighting the impact that the Irish

Famine had at both a local and national

level through a series of 32 panels

created in 1995 for the sesquicentenary of An Gorta Mór.

The exhibition underlines the importance

of the potato in the national diet and how

the blight had such a devastating effect

on the island of Ireland.

Leaving from the Steam Packet

Quay – Drogheda 1847.

A look back in time at our own Drogheda

Docks, during the worst year of the Irish

Potato Famine, as presented by students of

The Co Louth VEC Adult Education Centre,King Street.

Details from Maria Morgan 041-9830870

The exhibition will continue on May 10th

to June 19th from 10am - 5pm Mon-Fri

Time: 6.30p.m.

@ The Tholsel, West St. Drogheda.

Dé Céadaoin 9ú Bealtaine / Wednesday 9th May

DROGHEDA DURING FAMINE TIMES

Drogheda Civic Trust presents

The Inaugural Whitaker Lecture

Talk by Prof. John Fitzgerald:

Prof. John Fitzgerald will discuss aspects

of his own thesis on the commercial

importance of Drogheda in the 18th century.

Drogheda during the Great Famine:

Survival of the Least Fit

Talk by Mr. Ned McHugh:

Local Historian Mr. Ned Mc Hugh will

discuss the role that Drogheda Port played

in the famine, being one of the largest

emigration ports in the country.

Time: 6:30p.m.

@ Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda

Bookings: 041 9803311 / info@highlanes.ie

Dé Déardaoin 10ú Bealtaine / Thursday 10th May

RECREATING THE SOUP KITCHEN

In the summer of 1847, the government

set up some soup kitchens to give the

starving people hot soup. Huge boilers

were provided by The Quakers in which to

cook the soup. By August 1847, about 3

million people were being fed each day in total.

A soup kitchen will be situated in the yard

of Drogheda Borough Council which,

during famine times, was the site of one of

many soup kitchens.

For a donation of €5 to Drogheda Homeless

Aid, a tasty lunch will be served for you.

Times: 1:15p.m. - 2.30p.m.

@ Drogheda Borough Council Yard, Fair Street

Dé Déardaoin 10ú Bealtaine / Thursday 10th May

DROGHEDA LIBRARY FAMINE COMMEMORATION

The Great Famine in Drogheda in 1847

A talk by Brendan Matthews:

Local Historian Brendan Matthews

presents an illustrated talk on 'The Great

Famine in Drogheda 1847

Times: 3:45p.m. - 4:45p.m.

@ Drogheda Library, Stockwell St.

Dé Déardaoin 10ú Bealtaine / Thursday 10th May

BELFAST GIRLS

A reading of prizewinning playwight Jaki

McCarrick new work ‘Belfast Girls’ will be

performed in the Droichead Arts Centre.

Set in 1850 against the backdrop of the

famine, five young women choose to leave

the leprous workhouses as part of an

official scheme to transport orphan

workers from Ireland to Australia.

Time: 8:30p.m.

@ Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell St.

Dé hAoine 11ú Bealtaine / Friday 11th May

THE FAMINE LEGACY

The History of Commemorating the

Irish Famine: Famine Monuments in

Ireland and Abroad

Lecture by Prof. Margaret Kelleher:

Professor Margaret Kelleher is Director of

An Foras Feasa Humanities Research

Institute at the National University of

Ireland, Maynooth. Her books include

The Feminization of Famine (Duke UP

and Cork UP, 1997) - a study of famine in

Ireland and Bengal. She was a contributing

editor to the Field Day Anthology of

Irish Writing, Volume IV: Irish Women’s
Traditions (2002).

From Drogheda to Montreal – the

legacy of Fr. Patrick Dowd and the

Irish Famine orphans

Lecture by Dr. Jason King :

Dr. Jason King lectures in English at the

University of Limerick. He recently

established a virtual archive on "The

Typhus of 1847 / Le Typhus de 1847"

which makes accessible the eye witness

accounts and first hand testimonials of

individuals and members of religious

communities who risked their own lives

to care for and provide comfort for

Famine Irish emigrants in Montreal in 1847.

Time: 12.30p.m. - 2.30p.m.

@ The Tholsel West St. Drogheda

A light lunch will be served

Dé Sathairn 12ú Bealtaine / Saturday 12th May

THE IRISH DIASPORA

John Boyle O’Reilly Society of Ireland in

association with DKIT presents a conference

to discuss the continuing role of emigration in our society.

Irish America and their influence on USA Politics

Talk by: Niall O’Dowd, Editor Irish Voice New

York and Irishcentral.com

The role of the Irish in Britain – Agents for Change

Talk by: Dr. Kevin Bean, Liverpool University

Boston Irish Connections from Famine Days.

Talk by: Prof Catherine Shannon, University of Massachusetts

Settlement Patterns of the Irish in North America

Talk by: Michael O’Connell, UCC

Time: 10a.m. - 2p.m.

@ Westcourt Hotel, West St. Drogheda

Register with seancollins1@gmail.com

Dé Sathairn 12ú Bealtaine / Saturday 12th May

IMEACHT - DEPARTURE. AN AFTERNOON OF

POETRY, MUSIC AND SONG

For the people who left in famine times, it

was common to have what was called

Tórramh Meiriceánach , an American Wake. 
This was held just as a wake would

be for the dead, because it was felt that

the person leaving would never be seen

again and was effectively dead as far as

the people left behind were concerned...

They took the stories, haunting melodies

and poetry of Ireland with them.

Featuring unusual instruments, musicians

and singers. With intricate melodies and

harmonies of uilleann pipes, whistles and

flute that make Irish music so loved

throughout the world.

Time: 2.30p.m - 5.30p.m.

@ Outside St. Peters Church, West St.

Dé Sathairn 12ú Bealtaine / Saturday 12th May

FORGOTTEN VOICES

Forgotten Voices: the great Irish Famine

revealed through the Strokestown Estate archive

Lecture by Róisín Berry and Dr. Ciaran Reilly

Róisín Berry will provide a broad

overview of the work of the OPW-NUI

Maynooth Archive and Research Centre at

Castletown, the Strokestown Estate and its

fascinating Famine archive.

Dr. Ciaran Reilly will examine the nature

and content on the voluminous petitions

which form part of the Strokestown Park Archive.

Admission is free but booking essential.

Time: 2p.m.

@ Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda

041 9803311 / info@highlanes.ie

Exhibition on the ‘Forgotten Voices’

Of the great Irish Famine / OPW-NUI

Maynooth Archive & Research Centre

at Castletown

The exhibition is a rich and varied

selection of documents belonging to the

Strokestown Estate Archive from the

period of the Great Irish Famine (1845-51).

@ Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda

Exhibition runs from 12th to 30th May

A FAMINE PROJECT

A Famine Project, including sculptural,

video and notebook work from 5th Class

St Joseph’s Boys School with teacher Ms.

Dillane will go on display in the Irish

Cement Room. The Project will run from

12th to 30th May.

@ Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda

041 9803311 / info@highlanes.ie

Dé Domhnaigh 13ú Bealtaine / Sunday 13th May

GORTA FAMINE WALK ‘THE ARRIVAL’:

DROGHEDA REMEMBERS.

The Arrival – continuing the reenactment

of the story of one local

family who in 1847 symbolised the

exodus from Mayo as a result of An

Gorta Mor and their journey to

Drogheda.

The walk starts from Oldbridge House

and will last 90 minutes. The walk will

make its way to the National Commemoration

on North Quay and include a free

bus back to Oldbridge House.

Walk leaves from Oldbridge House,

Oldbridge, Drogheda @ 12 midday.

Walkers, ramblers and families with

children are most welcome.

01 6615522 / walk@gorta.org

Dé Domhnaigh 13ú Bealtaine / Sunday 13th May

COMMEMORATIVE MASS

A commemorative Mass will be held in

the Augustinian Church, Shop St.,Drogheda

Time: 1:15p.m.

The Cry of the Dreamer

by John Boyle O'Reilly

I am tired of planning and toiling

In the crowded hives of men;

Heart-weary of building and spoiling,

And spoiling and building again.

And I long for the dear old river,

Where I dreamed my youth away; 

For a dreamer lives for ever, 

And a toiler dies in a day.

I am sick of the showy seeming 

Of a life that is half a lie; 

Of the faces lined with scheming 

In the throng that hurries by. 

From the sleepless thoughts endeavour 

I would go where the children play; 

For a dreamer lives forever 

And a thinker dies in a day.

I can feel no pride but pity 

For the burdens the rich endure;

There is nothing sweet in the city 

But the patient lives of the poor. 

Oh, the little hands too skilful 

And the child-mind chocked with weeds!

The daughter's heart grown wilful, 

And the father's heart that bleeds!

No, no! from the streat's rude bustle, 

From trophies of mart and stage, 

I would fly to the woods' low rustle 

And the meadows' kindly page. 

Let me dream as of old by the river, 

And be loved by the dream away; 

For the dreamer lives for ever, 

And a toiler dies in a day.

The Irish Diaspora

John Boyle O’Reilly  Society of Ireland in association with DKIT  presents a seminar focusing on historical influences of the Irish Diaspora particularly in USA and the UK but will also look at contemporary issues regarding emigration.

Irish America and their influence on USA Politics

Talk by: Niall O’Dowd Editor Irish Voice New York and Irishcentral.com

The role of the Irish in Britain– Agents for Change

Talk by: Dr. Kevin Bean Liverpool University

Boston Irish Connections from Famine Days.

Talk by: Prof Catherine Shannon University of Massachusetts

Settlement Patterns of the Irish in North America

Talk by: Michael O’Connell UCC

Dé Sathairn 12 Bealtaine-Saturday 12^th May

Venue: Westcourt Hotel, West St. Drogheda

Times: 10am -2pm

Bookings: modowd@mail.com

Recreating the Soup Kitchen

In the summer of 1847, the government set up some soup kitchens to give the starving people hot soup.  Huge boilers were provided  by The Quakers in which to cook the soup. By August 1847, about 3 million people were being fed each day in total.

A soup kitchen will be situated in the yard of Drogheda Borough Council which was during famine times the site of one of many soup kitchens , the sole source of nourishment for many of our forbearers.

Come along and for a donation of €5 for adults and €2.50 for children  to Drogheda Homeless Aid a tasty lunch will be served.

Thursday 10th May -Dé Déardaoin 10 Bealtaine

Venue: Drogheda Borough Council Yard

12.00 noon schools only

1.15pm:- 2.30 p.m.  open to the public

Events Official Launch

Dé Sathairn 28 Aibreán-Saturday 28^th April 

Official Launch of Famine Events by the Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Kevin Callan in the Westcourt Hotel, West Street, Drogheda at 1.30 p.m.

Making Hunger History: Local Heroes in Faraway Places.

Organised by the Charity GORTA and launching Drogheda’s Famine commemoration events.

Speakers will include Brendan Rogers (Irish Aid), The Medical Missionaries of Mary & St. Joseph’s C.B.S.

Free places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so book immediately by emailing us at rsvp@gorta.org or calling (01) 6615522.

Venue: Westcourt Hotel, West St. Drogheda

Seminar from 2.30pm

Let us remember...Let us commemorate.

This year, Drogheda is hosting the National Famine Memorial Day. The event invites us to remember the millions who perished, suffered, and emigrated during the Irish Famine, and also those suffering from hunger today. 

 The 2012 National Famine Commemoration will be held on Sunday May 13th , on the North Quay in the town of Drogheda.

A programme of talks and events has been organised for the week leading up to the event. The programme illustrates the historical aspects of the Famine in Ireland, through History, Song, Drama and Music and highlights the role of Drogheda as a major port in the mass emigration from Ireland at that time.