National Famine Commemoration Day facts for kids

The National Famine Commemoration Day (Irish: Lá Cuimhneacháin Náisiúnta an Ghorta Mhóir) is a special day in Ireland. It remembers the Great Famine. The Famine was a terrible time when many people suffered. Before this day, there are many events for a whole week. The main day is usually a Sunday in May.

The Irish government has officially organized it since 2008. The main event moves around Ireland each year. It goes to a different one of Ireland's four main regions. There is also an event held in another country. This is for Irish people who live outside Ireland. At the main event, people can attend talks and art shows. They can also visit places linked to the Famine. The government asks local communities to hold their own events. They also suggest a minute of silence on the day. Schools and workplaces often do this on the Friday before.

Remembering the Great Famine

What Was the Great Famine?

The Great Famine happened in Ireland from 1845 to about 1850. It was a time when many people did not have enough food. This was mainly because a disease ruined the potato crops. Potatoes were a very important food for many Irish families. The year 1847 was known as "Black '47" because it was the worst year of the Famine. Many people died or had to leave Ireland to find food and a new life.

How the Commemoration Day Started

In 1994, the Irish government set up a group. This group helped fund events to remember 150 years since the Famine began. This group worked until the year 2000.

In County Mayo, people have held an annual "Famine Walk" since 1987. This walk goes from Louisburgh to Doolough. It remembers a sad event from 1849 called the Doolough Tragedy. In this event, many hungry people died while trying to get help.

From 2004, a group called the Committee for the Commemoration of the Irish Famine Victims (CCIFV) started its own yearly event in Dublin. People dressed as starving peasants. They walked from the Garden of Remembrance to the Famine memorial statues. These statues are in front of the Custom House.

The CCIFV group asked the government to officially recognize a Famine day. Many politicians supported their idea. Bertie Ahern, who was the leader of the Irish government (called the Taoiseach), talked about this many times. At first, he was not sure about having a special day just for the Famine. He thought it might be better to have one memorial for all big historical events. But by 2007, he was more open to the idea.

In 2007, the CCIFV walk received some official notice. Government ministers hosted receptions for the event. Then, in 2008, the government announced that it would officially organize an annual Famine commemoration. The first official National Famine Commemoration Day was held in July 2008.

The National Famine Commemoration Committee

In July 2008, a government minister named Éamon Ó Cuív created the National Famine Commemoration Committee. This committee's main job was to plan how future national Famine commemorations would happen. They also wanted to explore important themes. These themes included how many Irish people moved to other countries. They also looked at the loss of Irish culture and the Irish language. The committee also thought about food safety for everyone. They looked at how much Irish people care about helping others in need.

This committee now suggests where the main event should be held each year. They work with local groups in each area. The event moves around the four provinces of Ireland. For example, in 2015, the event was held in Newry, County Armagh, which is in Northern Ireland.

In 2016 and 2017, some politicians tried to make the commemoration day happen on the second Sunday of May every year. They wanted to make sure the date was always known.

Commemoration Locations

The main National Famine Commemoration Day event moves to different places each year. There is also an international event held in a country where many Irish people live.

See also

• National Day of Commemoration

Images for kids

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  Famine memorial in Dublin, which is the end point of the CCIFV walk.