2016 National Famine Commemoration Announced

The 2016 National Famine Commemoration is to take place on Sunday, 11 September at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

The event was announced by Heather Humphreys, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee.

Local schools and the local community will participate in the State commemoration, which will involve National flag and military honours before culminating in a solemn wreath-laying.

"This will be the 9th consecutive year in which the National Famine Commemoration has taken place and each commemoration has afforded us an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of those of our forebears who perished, emigrated and suffered during the Famine, which had such a profound impact on the island of Ireland," Minister Humphreys said.

"I am particularly pleased that the ceremony will take place in Glasnevin Cemetery, the resting place of so many of our national heroes, during this most important of centenary years. Glasnevin has been the location for a number of very respectful commemoration ceremonies throughout 2016, and I have no doubt it will serve as a fitting location for this year’s famine commemoration.

"I would like to thank the National Famine Commemoration Committee for their work and Glasnevin Trust for agreeing to stage the commemoration at the iconic Dublin cemetery. My Department and I look forward to working with the Trust and the local community in the area, as well as with our colleagues in the Office of Public Works, to deliver a fitting commemoration of the Famine at this hallowed site."

(MH/LM)