Boston Irish Famine Memorial first unveiled on June 28, 1998 to commemorate An Gorta Mor

On Sunday June 28, 1998, more than 7,000 people attended the unveiling of the Boston Irish Famine Memorial, including Ireland’s Minister of State Seamus Brennan, Massachusetts Acting Governor Paul Cellucci, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and leaders for numerous Irish organizations in Massachusetts.

Stonehill College President Rev. Bartley MacPhaidin gave the invocation, and music was provided by the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums.

The Memorial by artist Robert Shure juxtaposes an Irish family starving in Ireland with another Irish family striving for success in America. Eight narrative plaques encircling the statues tell the story of the famine and the Irish triumph in America.

The 1840s became known as An Gorta Mor, or the Great Hunger, during which a million Irish died and another two million fled Ireland because of successive potato crop failures and British government inaction which exacerbated the suffering and loss.

The memorial is part of Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail and is also along the Freedom Trail.

On June 28, 2023, an event was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the memorial.