Packed programme as Portumna hosts National Famine Commemoration
The National Famine Commemoration 2026 will be held in the Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna, on Sunday week, May 17, and there's a packed programme of community, educational and artistic events taking place around this important gathering.
These kick off this Saturday, May 9, with a conference in the Workhouse Centre. 'Reflecting on the Famine' running from 9am-5pm, will feature speakers discussing themes including; public memory and commemoration, famine and the arts, music and cultural loss, philanthropy and the governance of the Poor Law system
The Workhouse Centre will also host an exhibition opening and book launch on Sunday, from 1-4pm. 'Our Famine Stories' tells of famine and emigration as it explores the impact of starvation on local communities, and tracks the history of Galway people who settled in the US state of Minnesota. Meanwhile a new book, 'Hunger, Hardship and Relief: The Great Famine in Killimor, County Galway', reflects on experiences in that area.
Events will continue until Sunday, May 24, aimed at increasing people's understanding of An Gorta Mór while emphasising community involvement, inter-generational learning and creative engagement.
Next Tuesday, May 12, Dr Breandán Mac Suibhne of the University of Galway, will give a lecture in the Workhouse Centre. 'House Thrown Down by Neighbours: Entering the Grey Zone' is at 12.30pm and will be followed by the launch of 'Beyond the Gates: Stories from Seven Galway Workhouses,' a digital storymap, led by students at the university.
People are invited to readings from a new publication of new writing, 'Silence of Stone I and II', at the Workhouse Centre at 7.30pm next Tuesday. This is the culmination of a community outreach programme for which the Centre commissioned local writer Noelle Lynskey to facilitate a series of writing workshops reflecting on pieces in the Centre's museum. Writing from the workshops as well as from the 2023 book 'Silence of Stone' will feature in the new publication, with art by Jenny Wood-Sullivan.
On Wednesday, at 12.30, archaeologist Dr Christy Cunniffe will relaunch the booklet 'An Gorta Mór i Maigh Cuillin', after which Clifden historian Kathleen Villiers Tuthill will talk on the famine in Connemara.
Also on Wednesday, historian Noel Larkin will give a guided talk and walk, entitled ‘The 14th Earl of Clanricarde and his pivotal role in administrating his estate during the Famine Period’. Starting at Portumna Castle, it will run from 3-4pm.
At 8pm that evening, the Workhouse Centre will host a one-act, staged reading of 'Bishop Maginn - The Famine and the Fugitive', by Turlough Mc Connell. Directed by Marian Frawley with support from the Portumna Players, it explores the involvement of the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Maginn, after the 1848 Young Ireland rebellion in Ballingarry, County Tipperary. Professor Christine Kinealy of Quinnipiac University and Dr Gerard Moran, Emeritus Professor at the University of Galway, will also speak.
Next Thursday, at the Courthouse, community archaeologist Bernie Doherty will discuss the archaeology of the famine, examining its impact on the landscape. That talk starts at 12.30pm.
In the same venue on Friday, at the same time, Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche will speak on the life and political career of John Roche MP (1848-1914), who was his great-grandfather.
Also on Friday, starting at 7.30pm from Portumna Courthouse, historian David Broderick will lead a walk through the town, exploring Famine- and workhouse-related sites. This hour-long tour will form the basis for a permanent, self-guided heritage trail, focused on the story of one young girl, Mary Fielding, who lived and died in Portumna Workhouse.
Curlew Theatre will present 'Hunger / An Gorta Mór' at the Workhouse Centre on Monday, May 18, at 7.30pm. A play for two voices, performed by Tegolin Knowland and Seán Coyne, it was devised and directed by Eamon Grennan.
The Centre will host 'Evenrise: an Evening of Song', from Portumna's Omna choir and Loughrea's Scrum Notes on Tuesday May 19, starting at 8pm.
'Threadbare', an exhibition of textile artworks from Ballinasloe-based artist Joyce Little will be officially opened on Sunday, May 24, at 3pm by author, Nuala O’Connor. 'Threadbare' will continue throughout June and Joyce will give a workshop at the Centre on May 25 from 2-4pm.
Galway County Council, The Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna Arts Group and Portumna Players collaborated on this programme. Information on all events from the Irish Workhouse Centre, 090 9759200, https://irishworkhousecentre.ie or Galway County Council Heritage office; email: [email protected].