Ten Irish Famine Memorials in New England

As part of Ireland’s annual National Famine Commemoration taking place in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford on Sunday, May 19, 2024, the Boston Irish Tourism Association has compiled information on ten Irish Famine Memorials throughout New England. 

These memorials were erected between 1914 and 2019 and built by local Irish communities to commemorate the Irish Famine of the 19th century, which killed one million people and sent an additional two million people into exile.  The Irish Famine is also referred to in Irish as An Gorta Mor, or the Great Hunger.

Many of the Irish who fled Ireland during this time arrived at New England, arriving at local ports, or making their way here from Quebec, Montreal and St. John in Canada or from Eastern Seaboard cities such as New York and Philadelphia, often walking the entire distance.  

In Boston, a quarantine station was set up on Deer Island in May 1847, and similar measures were taken in other cities and towns as officials grappled to deal with the health crisis at their doorstep.  In 1847 alone, 25,000 Irish arrived in Boston, according to historians Thomas O’Connor and John McColgan.  

A variety of Irish-American organizations were involved in building these memorials over the years, but in particular the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a charitable organization of men and women.

• Cohasset Celtic Cross, Cohasset Central Cemetery / 1914
• Cambridge Irish Famine Memorial on Cambridge Common / 1997
• Boston Irish Famine Memorial in Downtown Boston / 1998
• Portland, ME Irish Famine Memorial, Western Cemetery / 1999
• Lawrence An Gorta Mor Memorial in Lawrence / 2006
• Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial in Providence / 2007
• Children of the Famine Memorial in Charlestown / 2009 
• An Gorta Mor / The Great Hunger Memorial in Milford / 2011
• Lowell Irish Famine Memorial, St. Patrick’s Church in Lowell / 2016
• Deer Island Famine Memorial at Boston Harbor Islands / 2019

In addition to these memorials, another place worth visiting is the Forbes House Museum in Milton, MA which has artifacts of the famous USS Jamestown voyage in 1847 to bring food and medical supplies to the people of Ireland.

Learn more about Irish history, heritage and culture in Massachusetts by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com and IrishHeritageTrail.com

Editors and Writers: please credit Boston Irish Tourism Association with this information, including graphics and narrative.