A memorial to the thousands of people who died in Kerry during the Famine has been officially unveiled and blessed.
The monument is located on St Margaret’s Road, just at the entrance to St Columbanus Home, the former workhouse were so many people passed away during the devastation of 1846 to 1850.
The idea for the memorial was initially proposed as a millennium year project by local historian Noel Grimes who was thrilled to see it unveiled this Sunday afternoon.
The plaque, set on traditional stone, was officially blessed by Killarney Parish Administrator, Fr Kieran O’Brien, Brother Pat Lynch of the Franciscan Friary, the Venerable Simon Lumby of St Mary’s Church of Ireland and Rev Alison Gallagher of the Methodist Church.
Noel Grimes explained how, in 1997, he was asked to escort a group of pupils from Gaelscoil Faithleannn on a walking tour history lesson to places of interest in Killarney that dated back to the Famine.
That sparked interest in the history of the old workhouse site and the late Cllr Michael Courtney proposed at a meeting of the then Killarney Town Council that a monument be unveiled.
It was done to mark the millennium but it wasn’t until today that it was officially unveiled by the Deputy Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher who said it is only many years from now that this generation and future generations of Killarney people will realise just how important the role people like Noel Grimes have played in this life.
“When it comes to knowledge of Killarney during Famine times, Noel is a walking, talking encyclopaedia and it is fair to suggest that he has already forgotten more about that dark time in our history than many of us will ever know or learn,” he said.
Cllr Kelleher said Noel is currently in the final stages of writing and publishing a book on Killarney during the Famine and it will become a treasured keepsake that will help inform future generations to come of the dark and troubled times.
“Given that so many people drew their last breath in the old workhouse here behind us during the Famine in the 1800s, it is a very fitting location for this memorial and, here today, we remember those who lost their lives, those that cared for them and those that grieved them,” Cllr Kelleher added.
KillarneyToday.com: Local news as it happens. To advertise call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
