Annual commemoration mass for victims of great hunger held in Tipperary

A special moment took place recently on 3 September in Clogheen to remember those who died Clogheen Workhouse during the Great Hunger.

A mass was offered to remember those who died during the event and many people attended to commemorate those who passed.

The mass began at 19:00, in which 50 people congregated and the bilingual mass was offered by the curate, Fr Paul Spain from Clonmel. Despite the heavy rain, people gathered together for a very special mass in which there was song, reflection and understanding and a wreath was laid by the curate Fr Paul Spain at the end of the mass as closure - followed by song and a group photograph.

The laying of the wreath in the graveyard is another tradition that has been part of the annual Mass for the past few years, and the colours of the wreath are carefully chosen for their symbolic meaning and significance of the event.

History of the event

Since 2022, much significant and successful conservation efforts have been undertaken in the Workhouse cemetery of which is located on the road to Lismore, approximately 1.25Km from the centre of the village of Clogheen, on the left-hand

In this graveyard there are 1,565 victims, men ,women, children who died in the Workhouse in Clogheen from the beginning of October 1848 to the beginning of February 1852 are were buried in mass graves in this cemetery.

With the past five years, an annual mass offered in both Irish and English has been held in this graveyard for the souls of all these victims.

The Mass, together with the aims of conserving this graveyard, reflects the same sentiment: to give respect and recognition to all those who are buried here, respect and recognition that they never received during their lifetimes and, secondly, to raise awareness at both local and national levels that graveyards such as this exist throughout the country, all around us. As Irish people and descendants of those who came before us, it is our responsibility to conserve these graveyards, honour those laid to rest within them, and ensure that they are treated with the dignity they deserve.

“Caithfimid aitheantas agus meas a thabhairt do na híospartaigh seo atá curtha anseo, dhá bhunphrionsabal daonna nár fhuaireadar agus iad ar an saol seo. Guímis orthu uilig agus cuimhnímis orthu go deo na ndeor”.

“We must give recognition and respect to the victims buried here—two basic human principles they never received in this life. Let us pray for them all and remember them forever”.