Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has announced that the National Famine Memorial Day 2010 will take place on May 16 in Murrisk, which is home to the National Famine Monument.
The west of Ireland, and County Mayo in particular, was one of the worst affected areas during the Great Famine and against this background it has been agreed by the National Famine Commemoration Committee that the national commemorative event in 2010 should be held in Murrisk.
“I am delighted that Murrisk is to be the location for the National Famine Commemoration ceremony in 2010, and I know that the event in Murrisk will be poignant and a fitting tribute to those that perished and suffered loss and desolation during the Great Hunger,” Minister Ó Cuív said. “I look forward to discussions taking place between my Department and relevant stakeholders, such as Mayo County Council and Murrisk Development Association, over the coming weeks to make the necessary arrangements to hold the 2010 National Memorial Day in Murrisk.”
Minister Ó Cuív also announced that the parallel international famine event will take place in New York during May in 2010.
