The Famine Statues can be found along Custom House Quay to commemorate the victims of the Great Famine of the mid-19th century in which 1 million people died, and 1 million emigrated. This location was one of the first voyages of the period, those sailing on the ‘Perseverance’ on St. Patrick’s Day 1846, landed in New York on May 18th 1846. The fare on the ship would have been about £3, and approximately 210 passengers made the journey. It is noted that all passengers and crew survived the journey.
This blow to the Irish population profoundly affected Irish society, and is blamed on the failure of the potato crop, the staple diet of many poor Irish. Rowan Gillespie, a renowned Dublin sculptor, designed and crafted the statues.
Opening Times:
Visit Year Round
Public Transport:
By Bus: visit dublinbus.ie
By Luas: Luas Red line - Georges Dock
By Dart: Tara Street