Remnants of the Potato Famine Today: Part 2

Last week I looked at the memorials in Ireland about the potato famine. I find this topic very interesting, so I decided to continue it this week (because there are many memorial in Ireland).

The first memorial I will talk about is the National Famine Memorial Coffin Ship in Murrisk, Connacht, in County Mayo. It was unveiled on July 20, 1997  by the Public Works to commemorate the potato famine, specifically the coffin ships. The monument is very morbid; it depicts the tortured soles of passengers as they made their way across the ocean on coffin ships.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6189658445_fd28ff8fcd.jpg

http://www.hmdb.org/PhotoFullSize.asp?PhotoID=96740

http://www.hmdb.org/PhotoFullSize.asp?PhotoID=96742

Another interesting memorial is the Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum located in Co. Laois, Ireland. It is an actual workhouse that opened in 1853 and its purpose it to tell the story of life in the workhouses before, during, and after the Great Famine. Guided tours and self-guided tours are available. Exhibits depict conditions within the workhouses common at the time along with period farm equipment. 

http://www.donaghmoremuseum.com/index.html

http://www.donaghmoremuseum.com/stg/userimages/site1552/subdir1/agriculture_museum.jpg

http://www.donaghmoremuseum.com/stg/userimages/site1552/subdir1/donaghmore_carts.jpg

During the Great Famine, the Doolough Tragedy occurred in south west County Mayo. In 1849, 600 people arrived Delphi Lodge where they pleaded for food from the local leader. He refused to give any food and turned the people away. From here, the group of people proceeded to walk 3 miles to the next town, in Doolough Valley. However, the people we so starved that 400 men, women, and children fell to their death alongside the road, leaving a trail of bodies behind them. Today, a small, simple stone cross marks this road and an annual walk is held in those lost souls memory. The cross holds a simple inscription from Mahatma Gandhi: How can men feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellow beings?

http://dorasireland.tumblr.com/post/11776332221/doolough-tragedy-cross-in-co-mayo-ireland-by

http://ih2.redbubble.net/image.10862497.2974/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg