We Remember
There is something grounding about standing together at the Famine Memorial on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, and this month we did so for two anniversaries at once: the 176th anniversary of An Gorta Mór, the Great Hunger, and the 26th anniversary of the day the memorial stone itself was set in place — 10 tons, 10 feet high, on September 16, 2000. As we have for the 25 years before, we gathered there for the on-site Mass, remembering all who suffered, all who survived, and everyone who has kept this remembrance alive.
CLEVELAND REMEMBERS
The Great Hunger
An Gorta Mór
Ireland’s Potato Famine 1845-50
THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES THE PASSING OF
150 YEARS SINCE THE MISERY KNOWN AS “THE GREAT
HUNGER”, A CARNAGE VISITED UPON THE IRISH NATION
DIMINISHING HER POPULATION BY MILLIONS. AS A
RESULT OF IMPOSED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
STRUCTURES, MANY OF THE IRISH WERE DRIVEN TO
THE POTATO ALONE FOR SURVIVAL. CONSEQUENTLY,
IRELAND’S PEOPLE STARVED TO DEATH, OR WERE
FORCED TO EMIGRATE, MANY DYING ON “COFFIN
SHIPS” ENROUTE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
TRAGIC AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN IRISH HISTORY.
LEST WE FORGET:
TO THOSE WHO DIED
TO THOSE WHO CAME AND ENRICHED OUR
CLEVELAND SHORES,
WE DEDICATE THIS MONUMENT TO YOU.
ERECTED ON THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE “GREAT HUNGER”
BY THE GREATER CLEVELAND IRISH COMMUNITY IN THE YEAR OF
OUR LORD, 2000.
Beside the stone rests a time capsule, filled with mementos, stories, and predictions of what 2050 would look like, written by those living in 2000. In another 24 years, we will open it, and hear, in their own words, the hopes they held for us — for the world they imagined we would be living in.
From the heart, we thank those who helped in this transition year, as we set the path for those to come, especially Cleveland GAA and Vincent Beach; John Lackey; Fr. Tom Mahoney; the AOH, John Myers and David McLaughlin; Phillip Parente and Tip Top Tents and Dan Hanson (for Dan’s video of the event, see: https://www.youtube.com/embed/7fQONVx85YI?si=cOtgWe51EmI27Diq#) for your time, your efforts, and for carrying this memory forward with us. Thank you to all who came – we were able to present the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland with a check for $500.
Did You Know?
THE Facts:
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88,000 engagements p/mo (www.iirish.us)
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Every story in print is also on www.iIrish.us.
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Every story on social media, are not in print.
The Year that Was:
2026:
