Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, will lead this year’s annual ‘Famine 1848 Walk’ in Ballingarry parish, Co Tipperary, in the Archdiocese or Cashel and Emly, this Saturday 29 July at 3.00pm.
The Famine 1848 Walk, now in its eleventh year, is undertaken to commemorate all those who suffered in the Great Famine. During the famine close to one million Irish people died, and another million people were forced to emigrate from Ireland. The walk also remembers William Smith O’Brien MP who was a leader in the attempted Famine Rebellion in Ballingarry in 1848.
The walk will begin at the Young Ireland 1848 and National Flag monument in the village of The Commons and finishes at the Famine Warhouse 1848,the state national heritage site and visitor attraction, taking roughly 45 minutes to complete.
Archbishop O’Reilly will deliver the walk leader’s speech at the end of the walk. The Archbishop will speak on the themes of famine and emigration from his own experience of working as a missionary priest in Africa in his early ministry as a member of the Society of African missionaries.
All are welcome to attend the walk or join at the closing speech if unable to participate in the walk. The following day, Sunday 30 July, at the Famine Warhouse, there will be readings of prose and poetry on the Famine and music provided by a local traditional music group, along with guided tours of the warhouse.
The state National Famine Commemoration will take place at Famine Warhouse 1848 on 30 September this year.
ENDS