Knockfierna hoping to host National Famine Commemoration 2025
The event will be held at a location in Munster which as of yet is undecided
KNOCKFIERNA Heritage Society is aspiring to hold the annual National Famine Commemoration in Knockfierna as the event will take place in Munster next year.
As yet the location for the commemoration is undecided but chairman of the Heritage Society Pat O'Donovan hopes the Knockfierna site will be “successful on this occasion.”
This event is attended by the President or Taoiseach along with a large number of ambassadors from different countries and local schools. Mr O'Donovan feels Knockfierna is a good location for this commemoration as it had a large population during the famine and the hill is famed for its historic mythology. Famine cabins have been restored and the famine wall and site has been developed there in recent years.
Knockfierna Heritage Society was established in 1987 by Mr O'Donovan. Huge development has taken place since the foundation of the society. The old famine roads were reopened and a Family Memorial Wall was erected with many plaques showing the population trends of the area.
Other notable achievements for the society include the unveiling of the Famine Memorial Stone in 1997 by Minister Síle de Valera. Ancient famine potato ridges which are still visible were fenced off and many other stone landmarks were erected throughout the hill including stone seating as well as other memorials. The annual New Year's Day walk has been taking place for the past 30 years.
Knockfierna was the most populated district in Limerick during the famine and was also the most affected. In an extract written by Mainchín Seoighe in Knockfierna Remembers The Famine Years 1847-1997, he said: “Looking at, and comparing, the census returns for the years 1841 and 1851 is like viewing the devastation and desolation left by a hurricane.”
The population of Knockfierna was 629 in 1841 which had dropped to 26 by 1901.