National Famine Walk
The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 165 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin.
This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Qubec.
They have kindly invited Direct Provision residents and New Horizon volunteers to participate in some or all of this walk. People can:
- Attend the Canadian Wake in Stokestown on 24th May
- Walk one, or more, days on the route
- Walk all the way
- Attend the arrival ceremony and launch of the trail at the Emigration Museum in Dublin on May 30th
This is very closely related to the terrible experiences of many of our friends on their journey to Ireland. It’s an opportunity to tell our refugee story and relate it in a deep, deep way to Irish history.
More information on:
Friday May 24th: National Famine Way Launch – Strokestown Park House
Day 1: May 25th Strokestown – Clondra 10am – 5.00pm (22km)
Day 2: May 26th Clondra – Abbeyshrule 9:30am – 5.00pm (30km)
Day 3: May 27th Abbeyshrule-Mullingar 9:30am- 5.00pm (27km)
Day 4: May 28th Mullingar –Longwood 9:30am – 5.00pm (30km)
Day 5: May 29th Longwood – Maynooth 9:30am – 5.00pm (27km)
Day 6: May 30th Maynooth – Dublin 9:30am – 5.00pm (27km)
On May 30th (5.30pm-7.30pm) and May 31st (10.00am – 5.00pm) the Inaugural National Famine Way Famine Quarter Custom House Quay Festival takes place at EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, CHQ Building. Custom House Quay.
Suggestions for New Horizon participation.
The Canadian wake.
This is the send-off party for the walk. There are exhibitions, tour of Strokestown house and the Famine museum, lectures, music from both Ireland and Canada, even a poitin still! (https://en.wikipedia.org/