National Famine Commemoration
10th September 2011
Clones, Co Monaghan

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and her husband, Senator Martin McAleese accompanied by Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, officiated at the National Famine Commemoration Day event in Clones, County Monaghan.

The commemoration featured a programme in which the local communities in County Monaghan were prominently involved followed by the formal State ceremonial event, which included military honours and wreath laying ceremonies.

There was great support for the commemoration in the local communities in Clones and Monaghan, which is evidence of the deep respect still held today for all those who perished, suffered and emigrated during this tragic period in our history. A local organising committee was established and they prepared a programme of community events, which took place in the lead up to the National Famine Commemoration on 10th September 2011.

13 October 2011

A public conference entitled: “From the Famine to Post Modern Hunger in the 21st Century”, was held in the National Library of Ireland.

The conference followed the 2011 National Famine Commemoration which took place in Clones to ensure that the famine, its victims and its legacy are not forgotten and at which President McAleese led the official representation. The conference was held to mark World Food Day, which takes place on Sunday 16th October 2011, and was conceived as a forum to promote an open and constructive dialogue among academics, development practitioners and leading development Non-Governmental Organisations on how best to combat hunger in the 21st century in low-income food deficit countries.