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.