This article is from page 2 of the 2013-01-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
THE West Clare town of Kilrush will be central to the national Famine commemoration this year, as it has been selected to host the main event.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan announced yesterday afternoon (Monday) that the maritime town will be the host location for the National Famine Commemoration Day, on a date yet to be announced.
The annual observance in Ireland commemorating the Great Famine has been organised officially by the Government since 2009. The main commemoration event is held in a different place each year, rotating among the four provinces of Ireland.
Events at the main venue usually include lectures, arts events, and visits to places connected to the Famine.
Local events also take place countrywide, while a minute’s silence is encouraged for schools and workplaces.
Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Mairead O’Brien welcomed the news stating, “Kilrush has historically been very closely linked with and was greatly affected by the Great Irish Famine. It is fantastic to see this link being recognised nationally.”
According to John Corry, Kilrush Town Clerk, “It is a huge honour for the town to host this event in the year of the Gathering and I hope that many visitors from near and far will visit our great town during this Commemoration.”
Kilrush is recognised nationally as one of the locations worst affected by starvation, disease and emigration between 1845 and 1852. The famine years brought much hardship to Kilrush. Evictions, fever and chol- era reduced the population of southwest Clare to such an extent that it has never again attained its pre-famine numbers.
Famine author and Clare-based Historian Ciarán Ó Murchadha, who supported Kilrush’s bid to host the event, said, “I can state without any fear of contradiction that although all of Clare suffered grievously, no part of the county endured as much as Kilrush town and Kilrush union, and for such a prolonged period. That being the case, I am delighted to learn that Kilrush will host the next National Famine Commemoration event.”