Famine Memorial, Dublin

Hi Everyone,

I recently visited Dublin and I had such a great time on a night out at the Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship! I really can recommend it to everybody as it is an unusual but magnificent setting for a night out in Dublin, especially if you are interested in live irish music. The ship is located at the River Liffey in the City Centre, during the day operates as the Famine Museum with guided tours, and at weekends it hosts live music sessions. Each time a different band plays, the music and the atmosphere is great and the staff is fantastic. As far as I know the next session will be held at the 26th December, and the band Garland will perform Sea Shanties. The entrance fee is very cheap, I think around 10 euros. For further info visit the official website of the ship http://www.jeaniejohnston.ie/events-page.html
I wish you the same fantastic time in Dublin I just had there:)

One of the most moving Irish Famine Monuments is located on Custom House Quay. It is special for me, it depicts sculptures of starving people - very thin, walking towards the ships on the docks.
It was built in memory of those who left for another country (mostly the USA) in hope of a better life. Ireland was struck with a great famine between 1845-49 when it was hit with potato blight, that destroyed most potatoes in the country. One milion people died of starvation or disease caused from lack of food.

I think it is worth going there and pay a tribute, once in Dublin. A beautiful landmark, really.

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On Custom House Quay is one of the Famine Monuments in Dublin. The people depicted in the sculptures are very thin of starvation and it is like they are walking towards the ships along the quay that could take them to another country and hopefully a better life.

Between 1845 - 49 Ireland was hit by the potato blight, which destroyed almost all potatoes growing. And as potatoes were the primary food source it was a disaster and about one million people died of starvation or diseases. Even more people emigrated to Great Britain, Australia or America.

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Alongside the River Liffey, just passed Customs House, is the Famine memorial dedicated to all those who lost their lives in the infamous Irish potato famine. At night it is lit up and the rake thin statues look quite eerie but definitely bring it home to you how people must have suffered during that time.

During the time of the Great Irish Famine, 1845 to 1849 more than one million men women and children died and nearly two million were forced to emigrate. The famine resulted in the potato crop failure the main source of food for Irish people. A memorial of six life sized bronze figures is situated near the customs house quay as a reminder of the hardship endured at that time. This area has had a complete makeover. Once a dangeous place to venture, now its full of restaurants, bars and a place where all the banking institutes have their offices. Do look out for magazine listings for the Summer months. The plaza turns into a makeshift theatre hosting plays and all sorts of music.

These statues of Ireland's greatest economic disaster are in front of custom house quay (a symbol of Ireland’s economic success), I'm not sure what this says.

The statues themselves are very good however the plaques on the floor are a little off putting. They list the names of people who donated money to help build the memorial, which is all well and good. However the names of famous people are in bold and highlighted. Personally I think a memorial should be just that, not a means to promote your celebrity status.

Just down from Custom House is the rather moving sculpture of a number of figures made to represent the poor who left Ireland during that time to find hope elsewhere.

It was sculpted by Rowan Gillespie and commemorates the 1845 famine. The figures are tall and elongated - the strecth making them thinner. There is a rather nicely done dog amidst them.

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This is the very famous Famine memorial, which is apparently art. It's some bronze statues with the saddest look on their face I've ever seen. Well they were starving so no wonder really..

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There are actually two famine memorials that I found while wandering about. One is just down the river from The customs house, and another is in St. Stephens Green.

The famine memorial in Dublin is a complex sculpturic monument remembrances the potato famine in 1846-47, designed by Rowan Gillespie in 1998. The complex is seat on Custom House Quay.