Tuesday 11 April 2017

National Famine Commemoration 2017 will be held in County Tipperary

This year's National Famine Commemoration will take place on Saturday 30 September in Ballingarry, Co Tipperary. It will be the first time the county has hosted the event.

It will be held in the Famine Warhouse 1848 (aka The Widow McCormack's House), the OPW national heritage site in Ballingarry.

Announcing the date and venue, Heather Humpreys TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, said: “Each year the commemoration represents an opportunity for the modern generation to remember the devastating impact which the Great Famine had on this country. At the heart of the National Famine Commemoration is the involvement of the local community, which each year brings a unique perspective to the ceremony which culminates in the formal State event, with the National flag and military honours, and wreath laying ceremonies.

“The Ballingarry Famine Warhouse is a fitting and historic venue for this year’s commemoration and I look forward to working with the local community and our colleagues in Tipperary County Council in preparing for this solemn commemorative event. The Ballingarry 1848 Historical Society has held the annual Famine 1848 Walk for the last decade, which shows the commitment of the local community to remember An Gorta Mór and its victims."