Published on Friday13thOctober2017

2018 National Famine Commemoration to take place in University College Cork

20171013 Taoiseach Humphreys Famine

Pictured are Culture Minister Heather Humphreys, UCC President, Professor Patrick O Shea and Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar

Culture Minister Heather Humphreys today announced that next year's National Famine Commemoration will take place on Saturday, 12th May 2018 in University College Cork.  The event will be hosted by University College Cork in collaboration with Cork City Council. The focal point of the 2018 commemoration will be the launch of TheGreat Irish Famine Online.

Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:

As chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am very pleased to announce that next year's National Famine Commemoration will be held in the grounds of UCC.  Of course, the College was established in 1845 and opened in 1849, with construction continuing throughout the Famine years. Perhaps it is this history that has led UCC to become a leader in the field of research in and study of the Famine years.

In recent years, the National Famine Commemoration has been held in historic sites such as Glasnevin Cemetery and, only last month, in the Famine Warhouse 1848 in Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary.  I am very pleased that on its return to Cork, having previously been held in Skibbereen in 2009, the Commemoration will take place in such a historic setting.

I am certain that the college and the City will come together to produce a fitting tribute to those who suffered during those darkest of years, not only on the day of the Commemoration but also through the development of a rich surrounding programme.