On Sunday 10 May, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan TD, will lead the 2026 International Famine Commemoration in Cohasset, Massachusetts. The event serves to honour the victims of An Gorta Mór (the Great Irish Famine) and acknowledge the enduring impact of the period on the global Irish diaspora.

The 2026 ceremony is organised through a collaboration between the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston, the local Irish-American community, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The formal State ceremony will include a keynote address by Minister O'Donovan, a wreath-laying ceremony, and cultural performances by both Irish and local artists.

The choice of Cohasset as the 2026 host site is deeply rooted in the history of Famine-era migration. In 1849, the town bore witness to the tragedy of the Brig St John, which sank in a storm within sight of the Cohasset shore. Despite rescue attempts by local residents, nearly everyone on board—mostly Famine refugees—was lost to the sea. Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Patrick O'Donovan said: "There are few regions that can claim as great a place in the history of the Irish diaspora than Massachusetts. The Great Irish Famine, An Gorta Mór, drove thousands from their communities, their land and the only lives they had ever known. Massachusetts is just one of the communities across the US where they found refuge, succour and opportunity.

"It is also hugely fitting that this commemoration takes place here in Cohasset. We are reminded of how great a risk these men, women and children took in committing their lives and futures to the Atlantic crossing as well as the brave efforts of the community here to try and save as many as possible."

Established in 2008, the International Famine Commemoration is an annual event held in cities with significant historical links to Irish migration. Previous hosts have included New York, Sydney, Liverpool, and Toronto. It complements the National Famine Commemoration, which takes place in Ireland each year to ensure the legacy of those who suffered or emigrated is never forgotten.