Galway County Council and the Irish Workhouse Centre have announced a comprehensive programme of events in the lead up to the 2026 National Famine Commemoration, taking place at the Irish Workhouse Centre on Sunday, 17 May. The Community Programme is created with support from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
The State event at the site of the former Portumna Workhouse, hosted by the Department in partnership with the Office of Public Works, will be broadcast live on RTÉ News Channel, RTÉ.ie and RTÉ Player starting at midday. It will include a wreath-laying ceremony, along with musical and cultural performances and a tree-planting ceremony.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will deliver the keynote address. The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, will also speak, along with local representatives.
Opened in 1852 and regarded as one of the most complete surviving complexes of its kind, the Portumna Workhouse has become a hub for lectures, exhibitions and cultural events. This will be the first time the National Famine Commemoration has been held in County Galway since it was established in 2008.
The programme begins on Saturday, 9 May, with a one-day conference from 9am to 5pm bringing together leading historians and researchers to examine how the Great Famine has been remembered and understood.
Titled Reflecting on the Great Famine: A Commemoration Conference, the free event runs from 9am to 5pm at the Irish Workhouse Centre. It will explore themes including public memory, the arts, music, philanthropy and the Poor Law system, along with a panel discussion on the famine’s lasting legacy.
In the days that follow, the focus shifts to community engagement, education and cultural reflection.
Events include the launch of a new exhibition, Our Famine Stories, featuring experiences from across Galway and the diaspora in Minnesota, alongside a publication on famine-era Killimor.
A bilingual workbook, Children in the Workhouse, will also be launched to introduce younger audiences to famine history.
A series of Lunch and Learn lectures will run throughout the week, including contributions from Breandán Mac Suibhne, covering topics from social history to archaeology.
The programme also features guided walks, theatre, music and new creative work. Highlights include a staged reading of Bishop Maginn: The Famine and the Fugitive, a guided walking trail, an evening of song, a lecture by Kathleen Villiers Tuthill exploring Connemara and the Famine, and a public Lecture and launch of An Gorta Mór i Maigh Cuilinn 1845-1850 (1997).
Two lunchtime lectures will take place at Portumna Courthouse as part of the programme on 14 and 15 May.
On Thursday 14 May, Galway Community Archaeologist Bernie Doherty will give a public lecture on the archaeology of the famine, examining traces in the landscape such as settlement patterns, relief works and burial sites, and what they reveal about lived experience and legacy.
On Friday 15 May, Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche will speak on the life and political career of his great grandfather, John Roche MP, placing his story within the struggle for tenants’ rights in East Galway and the lasting impact of the famine on political life.
Further events will continue after the national commemoration, including theatre, music and exhibitions running into late May and June.
A free bus service will operate from 9th to 15th May, connecting Maigh Cuillin, Galway City, Oranmore, Athenry and Loughrea to Portumna. Further information on the service is available on Eventbrite.
Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, said it is a great honour to welcome the programme to Portumna.
“This reflects a shared effort to remember the Great Famine in a thoughtful and inclusive way,” he said. “I want to thank all partners and local groups, particularly the Irish Workhouse Centre. It’s a source of pride for Galway and an important moment of remembrance for communities at home and across the diaspora.”
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said the programme reflects the enduring impact of the famine.
“It shows how our past continues to shape us, and the strength of partnership between the Council, Government and communities.
“I want to thank all involved, especially local groups whose knowledge and voices are central to this programme,” he added. “The Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna is a fitting setting, reminding us of the need to remember this defining period with care and dignity.”
Dr Christy Cunniffe of the Irish Workhouse Centre said it is a significant honour for Portumna to host the programme.
“This is a deeply important site and a powerful place to engage with the legacy of the Great Famine,” he added. “The Board of the Centre is grateful for the partnership with Galway County Council and the support of all involved. Our aim is to ensure this history continues to be explored and shared with future generations.”
Michael Owens, Director of Services with Galway County Council, said the Irish Workhouse Centre is a fitting venue for the commemoration.
“With its original buildings, extensive grounds and experience hosting large events, the Centre is an ideal setting to remember those affected by the famine.
“The Council, the Centre and the local community, including schools, volunteers and cultural groups, have worked closely with the National Famine Commemoration Committee to deliver a programme that is both respectful and engaging.”
Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer with Galway County Council, said the programme strikes an important balance.
She continued, “It brings together scholarship, community voices and cultural expression to ensure the legacy of the Great Famine is understood and remembered.”
All events are free and booking not required. For further information please contact the Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna at irishworkhousecentre.ie.
Information on The Portumna Workhouse:
Portumna Workhouse in County Galway was established in 1852 as part of the Poor Law Union system created in response to widespread poverty following the Great Famine. Designed by George Wilkinson and built on a nine-acre site north of the town, it was intended to house up to 600 people. Although it opened after the worst famine years, the workhouse was a direct outcome of the crisis, which had overwhelmed existing facilities with overcrowding, disease and death. Portumna became an essential refuge for the destitute of southeast Galway. Like other workhouses, it offered basic shelter and food in exchange for labour, with conditions kept harsh to deter reliance on relief. Families were separated on entry, except for mothers with infants under two. The site followed a T-shaped layout with segregated accommodation, a hospital, chapel and dining hall, many of which still stand today.
About Reflecting on the Great Famine: A Commemoration Conference:
Venue: Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna, Co Galway
Date: Saturday, 9 May 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Overview: One-day conference examining how the Great Famine has been remembered, with contributions from leading historians, researchers and cultural commentators.
Key speakers include:
Prof Christine Kinealy on famine memory and commemoration
Niamh Ann Kelly on famine in contemporary art
Michael Kelly on musicians and the workhouse
Rebecca O’Regan on women and philanthropy during the famine
Dr Gerard Moran on the Poor Law and vice-guardians
Chairs: Morning: Dr Mark McCarthy, Atlantic Technological University; Afternoon: Dr Christy Cunniffe, Irish Workhouse Centre.
Programme highlights: Panel discussion on famine legacy featuring Christine Kinealy, Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill and Dr Cian Moran, BL. Themes include public memory, culture, music, philanthropy and social history.
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