Josepha Madigan T.D., Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee has today announced revised arrangements for this year's National Famine Commemoration.
The ceremony will take place at the Edward Delaney Famine Sculpture in St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2 at 12.30pm on Sunday 17th May and will include military honours and a wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of all those who suffered or perished during the Famine. Wreaths will be laid by Minister Madigan on behalf of the Irish people and by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps on behalf of the Diplomatic Community.
As with the recent Easter and Arbour Hill Commemorations, the ceremony will be conducted in line with current health and safety guidelines and will not be open to the public. As in previous years, coverage of the Famine Commemoration will be available to view live nationally and internationally on RTÉ News Now, on www.rte.ie and on the RTÉ Player.
The National Famine Commemoration which had been scheduled to take place in Buncrana, Co. Donegal in May of this year will now be held in 2021.
Speaking today Minister Madigan said:
This year the National Famine Commemoration was to have been held in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. However, due to the circumstances in which we find ourselves these plans, like so many others, have had to be put on hold for now. I look forward to Buncrana hosting the Commemoration next year.
As we confront a pandemic today, let us recall that the Great Famine was a public health emergency in its own right. We think of the many heroes of the Famine years. People such as the doctors and nurses of the fever hospitals of who put themselves at risk to care for others will always have our thanks for their sacrifice. As our society has changed and evolved this commitment to helping others has never waivered and we see the same qualities of courage and commitment to others in our healthcare staff today.
Notes to Editor:
Images will be issued to media with a press release on Sunday, 17 May.
The ceremony will be available to view live on RTÉ News Now, on www.rte.ie and on the RTÉ Player, and footage can be made available to media.
The 2020 National Famine Commemoration was to be held in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. However the ceremony which would, as in other years, feature significant community involvement has been deferred until 2021 in light of the COVID 19 situation.
This year’s ceremony will therefore follow the model used for the Easter Sunday and Arbour Hill commemorations.
The National Famine Museum Strokestown Park (www.strokestownpark.ie/famine/roadshow/)
and the Irish Heritage Trust have been running the Great Famine Voices Roadshow 2020 (www.greatfaminevoices.ie/famine-heroes/) entitled “Famine Heroes” a series of virtual events season of documentaries and online lectures since April, These “Famine Heroes” virtual events provide uplifting stories about coping with epidemic and pay tribute to caregivers, both in the mid-nineteenth century and today. They are funded by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.
As part of this programme Dr Jason King and Dr Christine Kinneally will be holding an online discussion on May 17th on the theme of "Honouring Famine Heroes".