Jim Callery marks his 90th Birthday by walking The National Famine Way

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Founder of the National Famine Museum Jim Callery On Dublin’s Custom House Quay after Walking the 165 kilometre National Famine Way on his 90th birthday

Jim Callery founder of The National Famine Museum in Strokestown marked his 90th Birthday by walking the National Famine Way from Strokestown all along the Royal Canal to Dublin. He set off on 25th September walking the 165km, which commemorates the journey of 1,490 tenants of Major Denis Mahon that were evicted from Strokestown Park House Estate in May 1847 and had to walk along the canal to Dublin to board ships to Liverpool during Ireland’s Great Famine.

From Liverpool’s over- crowded and disease ridden port the tenants then sailed on ships to Canada and Quebec. Many would lose their lives on the ill-fated sea journey, some buried at sea or dying in the quarantine sheds of Grosse Isle or in Quebec’s Marine Hospital .Those that survived the harrowing conditions working hard to make new lives in Canada.

The incredible Jim Callery arrived into final stage of his long walk to Customs House Quay and the Famine Statues near the Epic Museum on Tuesday 15th October …his actual 90th birthday to be greeted by his proud family and friends celebrating the long life of this incredible man.   Along the way he has raised over Euros 50,000 for charities to help Immigrants and talked about all those who have are still forced to immigrate and leave their home place behind and how little has been learned by mankind in over 200 years of history.

 Jim Callery is an inspiration to all of us who have the good fortune to know him and has made a huge contribution to Ireland and preserving our history. So instead of a big birthday party he decided that walking the National Famine Way to commemorate the Great Irish Famine and retrace the footsteps of the Strokestown Tenants was what he wanted to do. What an achievement to celebrate his 90th birthday! 

Details about walking the National Famine Way are on:   https://nationalfamineway.ie   

Bronze shoes that mark the National Famine Way Jim Callery on canal with friends and family