‘Children and the Great Hunger in Ireland’ Book Launch

I was very happy to help launch ‘Children and the Great Hunger in Ireland’ at the opening of this year’s Famine Summer School in Stokestown.

The book is edited by famine experts Christine Kinealy, Jason King and Gerard Moran and examines all aspects of children’s lives during and after the Great Irish Famine. I was honoured to be asked by Prof Christine Kinealy to write the foreword for the book which looks at a topic very close to my heart. It is great to see academics, historians and famine experts turn their attention and provide new insights and research into these forgotten children.  It is published by The Great Hunger Institute at Quinipiac University Press.

Roscommon TD Eugene Murphy warmly welcomed everyone to Roscommon and Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers officially opened this year’s Famine Summer School which is held in Strokestown Park House, the National Famine Museum in Roscommon. He spoke of the huge Irish emigrant population that are part of Canada and of our shared history.

The scale of this emigration was highlighted by Mark McGowan of Toronto University and in a powerful documentary film made by Kevin Moynihan The Famine Irish and Canada’s First Responders

The next day before leaving I strolled around the large walled gardens of Strokestown House, which are well worth a visit.  An outdoor sculpture exhibition by pupils of local schools is currently on display there.