National Famine Commemoration Ireland

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The National Famine Commemoration, Clones, Co. Monaghan
The 2011 National Famine Commemoration will be held on Saturday September 10, in the town of Clones.
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The national spotlight will be on Clones on Saturday, September 10, when the National Famine Commemoration is held in the Border town, writes Tom Carron. It is a major State occasion and will be attended by President Mary McAleese and ambassadors from about 30 countries around the globe.

Representatives of all religious faiths will participate in an ecumenical service of remembrance on the Diamond and President McAleese will lay a wreath in memory of all famine victims in front of Clones Market House which was itself built during the early years of the famine.
A programme of talks and events has been organised for the week leading up to the event. The programme illustrates the historical aspects of
Famine in Ireland, through History, Song, Drama and Music and highlights the realities of famine prevalent today in many parts of the world.
There will be no cover charge for any of the events taking place from 29 August to 10 September. However, donation boxes will be located at each of the venues.
All proceeds will be going to ease the suffering of famine victims in Africa.
Please note that all events will start on time.

Cluain Eois, Co. Mhuineacháin
Clones, Co. Monaghan
'It would be impossible to exaggerate the awful destitution that exists in the town of Clones and neighbourhood. No day passes but some victims of this frightful calamity are committed to the grave.
The workhouse contains upwards of a hundred over the regulated number, and most of them were all but starved before they obtained admission. Their exhausted frames were then unable to bear the food doled out to them, and hence they are, at this moment, dying in dozens'
Fermanagh Reporter – December 1846

Beidh Comóradh Náisiúnta an Ghorta Mhóir 2011 ar siúl sa Diamant i gCluain Eois, Contae Mhuineacháin ar an Satharn, 10 Meán Fómhair 2011 ag 2.30 i.n. Tá an tU-achtarán Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa tar éis glacadh le cuireadh bheith ina ceann feadhna
i mbliana ar an toscaireacht oifigiúil ag an searmanas cuimhneacháin. Cuirfear tús leis an gclár cuimhneacháin le searmanas ina mbeidh páirt mhór ag an bpobal áitiúil sula
dtionólfar ócáid searmanais oifigiúil an Stáit a áireoidh gradaim mhíleata agus sear-manas fhleascleagain. Mar chuid de ghné pobail an chuimhneacháin beidh ceol;
sleachta léitheoireachta agus paidreacha; bronnadh comharthaí mar chuimhne ar iadsiúd a dʼfhulaing agus a cailleadh le linn an ghorta; agus nóiméad machnaimh chiúin.
Tá fáilte roimh gach éinne a bheith i láthair

The 2011 National Famine Commemoration will take place in The Diamond in Clones, County Monaghan on Saturday, 10th September at 2.30 p.m. President Mary McAleese has accepted an invitation to lead the official representation at the commemoration ceremony. The commemoration programme will open with a cere-mony in which the local community will be greatly involved and it will culminate in the formal State ceremonial event, which will include the National flag and military honours, and wreath laying ceremonies. The community element of the ceremony will include music; readings and prayers; a presentation of tokens in remembrance of those who suffered and perished during the famine; and a minute of silent reflection. All are very welcome to attend.
Saturday 10 September - Dé Sathairn 10 Meán Fómhair
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Northern Standard, 8 May 1847
There is scarcely a day but there are wretches found dead, or dying, either in Clones town or on some of the roads that lead to it, and not to mention those who die in their huts and in the country.

Minister Deenihan calls for all sporting organisations to observe a minute of silent reflection on Saturday, 10th September 2011 in memory of those who perished and suffered during the Great Famine
Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht today (Tuesday 10th August, 2011) invited sporting organisations to observe a minute of silent reflection at all sporting and public events taking place on Saturday, 10th September in memory of all those who suffered loss during the Great Famine.

Minister Deenihan said: 'Now, more than ever, we need to remember those who suffered loss during the Irish famine – loss of life, loss of family, loss of home and loss of country. The legacy of the Great Hunger resonates deeply with Irish people. This is particularly poignant in light of the plight being suffered in these present times by those in Somalia and throughout East Africa. To date, the Irish Government has provided some €7.7 million in relief through Irish Aid. This is the largest contribution to a single emergency from the Government in 2011 and shows that as a people we care deeply about adults and children who are literally starving to death. Down through the years, Irish people have always been known to have a strong commitment to humanitarian aid and to respond generously to relief efforts'.

Minister Deenihan continued: 'I would encourage all sporting organisations to observe a minute's silence at events on 10th September, the date of this year's National Famine Commemoration. This year's commemoration will be held in Clones, Co. Monaghan and President Mary McAleese has accepted an invitation to lead the official representation at the commemoration ceremony'.
Minister Deenihan commented: 'President McAleese’s involvement in this commemorative event shows the deep respect and honour that the Irish nation has for the victims of the great famine. This year’s event promises to be a great success and a fitting tribute to those that perished many years ago but who will not be forgotten. As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I would like to thank President McAleese for her participation in this year’s event.'

Earlier in the year when Clones was chosen as the place for the National Famine Commemoration 2011
Minister Deenihan said: ‘I am delighted that Clones, County Monaghan, is to be the location for the National Famine Commemoration in 2011 and to learn of the great support in the local communities in Monaghan for this event. It is evidence of the deep respect still held today for all those who perished, suffered and emigrated during this tragic period in our history. I look forward to discussions taking place over the coming weeks between my Department and the relevant stakeholders to make the necessary arrangements and I hope to announce the date of this year’s commemoration very shortly.’

There is nothing else in the history of the Irish people that can be likened to the Great Famine, either for its impact or its legacy of emigration, cultural loss and decline of the Irish language. That legacy also includes a strong appreciation among Irish people of issues such as food security and a strong commitment to humanitarian aid and relief, even today in these very difficult economic times.

Respected historians have pointed to the significant impact of the Famine in Ulster as a whole and to the particular impact in south Ulster. Indeed, Clones was amongst the hardest hit areas in all of Ireland. Before the Famine, Monaghan and neighbouring parts of Fermanagh had one of the highest population densities in all of the island of Ireland. In 1841, the population of the Clones Poor Law Union was 42,225. However, by 1851 this had fallen by 27,487, a decline of 35% and the number of inhabited homes dropped by 2,000. As Brian McDonald states in the Clogher record:

‘More than 2,000 families gone from townlands and parishes, the traces of potato ridges, the fallen thatch and crumbling walls the only tangible evidence of their having lived and loved this place they knew as home’.

At least 13,000 people died from starvation and disease in Monaghan between 1847 and 1850. By the end of March 2007, the Strangers’ Burial Ground of St. Tighernach’s Church of Ireland was full. A memorial plaque at the Clones Famine and Workhouse mass grave bears the following moving inscription:

‘Erected in memory of all the people from Clones Union who died because of the Great Famine 1845-1850; Also those who died in the workhouse 1845-1921; The meek shall inherit the earth...’

Famine relief schemes were set up throughout the country during the Great Famine and one of them in Clones gave rise to the world renowned Clones Lace. In 1847 Rev. Thomas Hand and his wife Cassandra arrived in Clones from Surrey and were so horrified by the devastation caused by the Famine that Cassandra set up the lace/crochet making as a relief scheme. By 1851, almost every family in Clones was involved in the crochet industry.

When making the announcement today in Clones, Co. Monaghan, Minister Deenihan also expressed his gratitude to the members of the National Famine Commemoration Committee for their commitment in ensuring that the catastrophic events of the Great Famine are appropriately remembered and that the extraordinary contributions of those who emigrated and of their many descendents abroad are justly celebrated.

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