From: http://www.IrishCentral.com

August 2, 2016

Don’t miss this.

http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/Refugees-tales-unearthed-most-significant-research-Great-Hunger-dead.html?utm_source=Mailjet&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Best%20of%20IrishCentral%20-%202016-Aug-2

Check here to see what Michael Blanch and others are saying about the campaign to give every Irish Hunger Victim a grave marker.

https://m.facebook.com/bilcar31/posts/10206703411732578

Frances Mulraney @FrancesMulraney

October 18,2015 03:17 AM

From: http://www.IrishCentral.com

 

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The first International Hunger marker was laid at Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, this summer. Photo by: Lynn Rogers

Staten Island, New York, is the first US city to place grave markers at unmarked graves in memory of the thousands of Irish victims of the Great Hunger.

An idea conceived by the Committee for Commemoration of Irish Famine Victims (C.C.I.F.V.), the community activist group that successfully petitioned for an Irish National Famine Memorial Day in 2008, the International Hunger markers have been placed at unmarked grave sites throughout the world. Until summer 2015, however, they had not reached the States.

On achieving their goal of a national remembrance day a few years ago, the C.C.I.F.V turned their attention to goals that would unite all victims of the Irish Famine wherever their final resting place may be and so began the C.C.I.F.V Marker Project. The project aims to mark all unmarked famine graves wherever they are found – on the island of Ireland, its islands and any locations overseas – and act as an affordable and easy way to respectfully remember all unmarked famine grave sites.

The project began in the US six months ago when local group Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries of Staten Island (FACSI) were contacted by C.C.I.F.V. The first US marker was placed in Staten Island Cemetery on Richmond Terrace this summer, a burial site that offered free burial for children under 2 years of age.

READ MORE: Burying the Irish Famine dead in Staten Island (PHOTOS).

The marker was installed by FASCI, a not-profit organization whose mission it is to identify, restore, protect and beautify the abandoned, neglected or otherwise forgotten cemeteries, with the help of Summer Youth Employment Program workers.

During the years of the Great Irish Famine (1845-1858) tens of thousands of Irish immigrants came to New York harbor, many of whom were found with disease and perished. The Marine Hospital and Quarantine Station operated on Staten Island from 1799 until 1858, checking all those who came into New York harbor for signs of disease before being let ashore.

Summer Youth Employment Program workers helping to erect the marker at Richmond Terrace. Image: Lynn Rogers.

The hospital saw many casualties among the Irish who braved the perilous voyage across the Atlantic in search of safer shores and the medical center came to operate two cemeteries to cope with the mass of deaths among starving and weak Irish immigrants.

Those who died were buried on Staten Island. No death certificates were issued, no cemetery log kept, and gradually the burial sites disappeared from all further records.

The first marker is placed in Richmond Terrace to remember the many Irish buried in an unmarked, multiple burial site at the back of the cemetery. During the time of the famine, many fleeing hunger and poverty lived in the Irish shanty town that had developed in the direct area of the cemetery. The shanty was constructed as a result of Irish immigrant families that were confined on Staten Island due to the quarantine station

Already at the entrance to Richmond Terrace stand two statues that originally occupied the grotto in St. Vincent’s Hospital donated by the Sisters of Charity, “In Memory of the Children.”

“In Memory of the Children.”

On October 25, the next marker is to be placed at the existing Irish memorial in Silver Lake Golf Course in a ceremony also organized by FACSI. The Silver Lake Cemetery was the larger of the two cemeteries established by the Staten Island Hospital and Quarantine Station, a place where it is estimated that over 10,000 people were buried during the famine years.

READ MORE: How the world remembers the Irish Famine.

The thousands of victims will be remembered in a ceremony conducted by Assemblyman Michael Cusick while Msgr. James Dorney consecrates the cemetery grounds.

The Staten Island Markers are produced locally by Bill Fahey who has also provided markers for Baltimore and Boston although Staten Island is the first place where the marker has been inserted into the grave site.

The second grave marker will be placed at Silver Lake Golf Course at 1pm on Sunday October 25 at the existing Irish Memorial located beside the restaurant. The event is free and open to all.

There are further hopes to install a third famine grave marker at St. George Court House in Staten Island in May 2016.

Lynn Rogers
October 18 at 2:00pm

Great article in today’s Irish Central on the Irish Hunger markers. Next installation Sunday Oct. 25 at the largest of the NYC Quarantine Cemeteries:
http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/First-Great-Hunger-grave-markers-for-New-York-unmarked-graves.html
First Great Hunger grave markers for New York unmarked graves
http://www.irishcentral.com
Staten Island is the first US city to erect markers at unmarked famine graves.

Sunday, October 25 – 1 PM
Installation of Irish Hunger Marker & Blessing of the Grounds
Silver Lake Golf Course – at the existing Irish Memorial (by restaurant)
Free event – all welcomed

*The larger of the two Marine Hospital-Quarantine Cemeteries (1799-1858) is still intact under a portion of the Silver Lake Golf Course. Staten Island is the first US City to install the international Irish Hunger Marker. These markers are being placed at all Irish Famine unmarked grave sites throughout the world.

Lynn Rogers
Executive Director
Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries, Inc.
158 Myrtle Avenue, SI, N.Y. 10310
917-545-3309

Irish Famine Commemoration – September 26, 2015

Heather Humphreys, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said:

My Department is delighted to be working with our partners in Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to pay tribute to those who suffered, perished or emigrated during this tragic period in Irish history. I believe that this varied and comprehensive programme of events will generate an important dialogue about the famine, its impact on the whole island and on the effects of hunger still endured in the world today. I congratulate the Council and the local community for their work in putting together what promises to be a fascinating series of events which will deliver a unique perspective to this year’s commemoration. I also very much look forward to participating in the main commemoration ceremony on September 26th at Albert Basin here in Newry, when Government representatives both North and South and representatives of the international community will join with the people of Newry in remembering all those who suffered throughout the Island during the Famine. DCAL Permanent Secretary Denis McMahon, who represented Minister Ni Chuilin at the launch, said;

“The cross-party support for the hosting of the famine commemoration in Newry this year provides us with an important opportunity to increase understanding and raise awareness of a key period in our shared history and to promote inclusive approaches to remembering our past. The famine affected people from right across the island of Ireland. Its impact was felt for many years to come and looking back on it now some 170 years since its outbreak, it is still difficult to comprehend the sheer scale of hardship. “It was a time that should never be forgotten; it is a time that we need to be reminded of and that is why this annual commemorative event is an important template to help us understand this terrible time and ensure that this can never happen again.”

A copy of the programme for the event will be available on

http://www.newrymournedown.org

And at:

http://www.irishfamine.ie/docs/Newry_Local_Programme_of_Events.pdf

From: RTE News – http://www.rte.ie/news/

Saturday 08 August 2015 22.18

Bishop of Cloyne William Crean

A catholic Bishop has compared the loss of lives among migrants crossing the Mediterranean to the loss of Irish lives on the ‘coffin ships’ during the Great Famine.

Bishop of Cloyne William Crean has called for special prayers at Masses in the diocese of Cloyne this weekend for all those involved in the refugee crisis.

Many of the Irish naval personnel who have worked in the Mediterranean are based in the diocese.

Bishop Crean said everyone had an obligation to safeguard the rights, the religion and traditions of migrants fleeing persecution.

The loss of so many innocent lives at sea “resonates strongly with the Irish experience of the coffin ships during the time of the Great Famine”, he said in a statement.

From: http://www.irelandmonumentvancouver.com

Check out the Ireland Canada Monument on
The Ireland Canada Monument Newsletter
Nuachlitir Shéadchomhartha na hÉireann agus Cheanada
In Recognition of the Contribution of Irish Canadians and Canadians of Irish descent to Canada.
http://www.irelandmonumentvancouver.com
Ní bheidh ár leithéidí arís ann! There will never be the likes of us again
Monumental News – July 31st 2015. Issue #100
“We are where we come from! “

Latest News
It is the one hundredth issue of the Monument Newsletter. We have come a long way as we near the goal of completing a fitting memorial to the All the Irish in Canada. Thanks to everyone for your continued support. We continue to move forward on all fronts and the most recent offer by Vancouver Parks Board of a new site at Wainborn Park in False Creek is wonderful news indeed. See below. Special thanks also to the first advertiser of the Monument Newsletter. See page 2. We hope others will follow. If you know anyone who would like to advertise in the newsletter please have them contact anyone of the Directors. See http://www.irelandmonumentvancouver.com
————————————————————–
On the 19th May the Ireland Canada Monument Society was delighted to receive a formal invitation from the Department of Canadian Heritage to apply for Grant Funding as the Governement of Canada looks forward to celebrating Canada’s 150th Anniversary as a nation in 2017. The online application process was scheduled for completion on June 17th 2015 at 1.00pm. The society immediately invited
interested individuals to assist in the application and were delighted to receive help from Dr. Trevor Carolan of the University of the Fraser Valley and local musician Mr. Pat Chessell. The submission date was extended to June 18th and the Society uploaded a comprehensive submission document to compliment its application including a design for the Monument at Wainborn Park. It is important to note that this design was not approved by Vancouver Parks Board. In addition to documents specifically related to the Monument, Society Director, Sarah Ann Chisholm also prepared a comprehensive document outlining details for a celebration event to coincide with the Monument’s unveiling in Vancouver which was also submitted to Canadian Heritage. Confirmation that our application was successfully received is included below. The Society looks forward to hearing from Canadian Heritage within 90 days of the June 18th application.

For the complete newsletter please visit: http://irelandmonumentvancouver.com/monumental-news/

Or find more information at our website: http://www.irelandmonumentvancouver.com

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is pleased to host the Annual Famine Commemoration which will be held in Newry on Saturday 26 September 2015.

The Council unveiled a programme of events leading up to the Annual Commemoration at a media launch in Newry and Mourne Museum on Saturday 25 July 2015. A programme of events has been put together to explore further the social, cultural, linguistic, economic and political legacy of the famine.

The media launch was attended by Councillor Naomi Bailie, Chairperson Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Heather Humphreys, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and by Mr Dennis Mc Mahon, Permanent Secretary, to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Councillor Bailie said: “Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is honoured to host the Annual Famine Commemoration 2015. The remembrance of those who died or had to leave these shores is an important element in fostering an appreciation of the impact the famine has had and continues to have in modern Ireland today. The Council is delighted that Newry City has been chosen as the location for the first time that the Annual Famine Commemoration has been held north of the border. The Council has formed partnerships with cultural, community, and educational agencies and groups in order to ensure as wide an audience as possible attends the events and gains a greater understanding of the impact the Great Famine had in this region.”

The highlight of the Councils Famine Commemoration Programme will be the Annual Commemoration which will take place at the Albert Basin, Newry on Saturday 26 September 2015. The official ceremony will feature musical performances, poetry readings, and an unveiling of an historical plaque as well as contributions from local school children, community representatives, and senior government representatives. The Annual Commemoration will culminate in a wreath laying ceremony and a minute

silence in remembrance of those who were lost through death and emigration.

A copy of the programme will be available on

http://www.newrymournedown.org

Programme also available here:

 http://www.irishfamine.ie/docs/Newry_Local_Programme_of_Events.pdf

Heather Humphreys, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said:

My Department is delighted to be working with our partners in Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to pay tribute to those who suffered, perished or emigrated during this tragic period in Irish history. I believe that this varied and comprehensive programme of events will generate an important dialogue about the famine, its impact on the whole island and on the effects of hunger still endured in the world today. I congratulate the Council and the local community for their work in putting together what promises to be a fascinating series of events which will deliver a unique perspective to this year’s commemoration. I also very much look forward to participating in the main commemoration ceremony on September 26th at Albert Basin here in Newry, when Government representatives both North and South and representatives of the international community will join with the people of Newry in remembering all those who suffered throughout the Island during the Famine. DCAL Permanent Secretary Denis McMahon, who represented Minister Ni Chuilin at the launch, said;

“The cross-party support for the hosting of the famine commemoration in Newry this year provides us with an important opportunity to increase understanding and raise awareness of a key period in our shared history and to promote inclusive approaches to remembering our past. The famine affected people from right across the island of Ireland. Its impact was felt for many years to come and looking back on it now some 170 years since its outbreak, it is still difficult to comprehend the sheer scale of hardship. “It was a time that should never be forgotten; it is a time that we need to be reminded of and that is why this annual commemorative event is an important template to help us understand this terrible time and ensure that this can never happen again.”

A copy of the programme for the event will be available on

http://www.newrymournedown.org