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
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).
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
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.
Dé Domhnaigh 13ú
Bealtaine / Sunday 13th May
NATIONAL COMMEMORATION CEREMONY
The 2012 National
Famine Commemoration
will take place at
North Quay at the
port of Drogheda,
County Louth on
Sunday, 13th May at
2.30p.m. An Taoiseach
Enda Kenny has accepted
an invitation
to lead the official
representation at
the commemoration
ceremony. The
commemoration programme
will open
with a ceremony in
which the local
community will be
greatly involved and it
will culminate in the
formal State ceremonial
event, which will
include the National
flag and military
honours, and wreath
laying ceremonies. The
community
element of the ceremony
will include
music; readings and
prayers; a presentation
of tokens in
remembrance of those
who suffered and
perished during the
famine; and a minute of
silent reflection.
All are very welcome to attend.
Time: 2:30p.m.
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