Famine ceremonies in Dunshaughlin, Kells

Dunshaughlin and District Historical Society will hold its annual Famine commemoration ceremony this Sunday, 16th May, at 2.30pm at the Famine graveyard behind the old Workhouse on the Dublin Road. It is estimated that over 1,000 people are buried at this site. The society encourages everyone to participate in this event to remember those who lost their lives during this catastrophic event. The failure of the potato crop during the 1840s was a transforming event in Ireland and no other event in the country's history can be likened to the Great Famine for either its immediate impact or legacy. The population of Ireland, which exceeded eight million in the Census of 1841, was reduced by approximately 1.5 million through death and emigration. The Kells Famine commemoration will take place on Sunday at the People's Park at Loyd in conjunction with National Famine Commemoration Sunday. The ceremony, which will begin at 3pm, will be addressed by the cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr William Carey, and the cathaoirleach of Kells Town Council, Cllr Brian Curran. Music will be provided by the Kells Silver Band. The National Famine Commemoration Committee has proposed that the national event this year will take place on 16th May in Murrisk, Co Mayo. A parallel international event will be held in New York. Communities around the country are being encouraged to hold their own local events to commemorate the Great Famine and all public and sporting events are to observe a minute's silence on National Famine Memorial Day.