From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee has today announced arrangements for this year's National Famine Commemoration.
The ceremony, which will be led by President Michael D. Higgins, will take place in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin at 12pm on Sunday 16 May and will include military honours and a wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of all those who suffered or perished during the Famine. President Michael D. Higgins will give the keynote address at the ceremony. Wreaths will also be laid by H.E. Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu, and the Chairman of Dublin Cemeteries Trust, Mr. David Bunworth.
The ceremony will be conducted in line with health and safety guidelines and, as in 2020, will not be open to the public. The ceremony will be broadcast on the RTÉ News channel, RTE.ie and on RTÉ News across social media. It will also be available on the department’s YouTube channel.
Speaking today Minister Martin said:
“As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee I am very pleased that President Michael D. Higgins had agreed to lead this year’s ceremony. President Higgins’ participation reflects the resilience and optimism of the Irish people as we emerge from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Public interest in the Great Famine has increased in recent months following the broadcast of the landmark “The Hunger” documentary series last December which attracted record viewing figures. The associated materials published on the RTÉ history website has attracted over 250,000 views while the feature length version of “The Hunger - The Story of the Great Irish Famine” is being released internationally this year and recently won the audience Award at the Washington Film Festival.
"I also note that this will be the second time that the commemoration has been held in Glasnevin Cemetery. This is especially appropriate as the commemoration takes place on the weekend of the anniversary of the death of the cemetery’s founder, Daniel O’Connell."
Footage of the National Famine Commemoration can be provided by RTÉ to all other media. Please contact Margaret Bennett, Executive Producer of Special Events at RTÉ on 086 6043923 or margaret.bennett@rte.ie
The 2021 National Famine Commemoration was to be held in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. However the ceremony which would, as in other years, feature significant community involvement has been deferred in light of the COVID-19 situation. This will be the second time that the commemoration has been held in Glasnevin Cemetery. The founder of the cemetery Daniel O’Connell died in Genoa on 15 May 1847.
The Great Hunger attracted record viewing figures when broadcast in December 2020. The feature length version of the ”The Hunger - The Story of the Great Irish Famine” is being shown at Film Festivals across North America and be broadcast by ARTE in France and Germany later this year. Further information on “The Hunger” is available from Colm Crowley, Executive Producer of The Famine and Head of RTÉ Cork at Colm.Crowley@rte.ie
The National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park and the Irish Heritage Trust have been running the Great Famine Voices Roadshow 2021 entitled “Famine Heroes”, a series of short films since May. These “Famine Heroes” films provide uplifting stories about coping with epidemic and pay tribute to caregivers, both in the mid-nineteenth century and today. They are funded by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.
As part of this programme, Dr Jason King and special guest Brendan Graham will be holding an online discussion on 16 May on the theme of “Songs of the Great Hunger” immediately after the National Famine Commemoration ceremony. This online discussion will be hosted on http://greatfaminevoices.ie/famine-heroes.