National Famine Monument

Along the shores of Clew Bay at the foot of Croagh Patrick, the National Famine Monument commemorates all those who died in Ireland's Great Famine of 1845-49. Created by renowned sculptor, John Behan and unveiled by President Mary Robinson in 1997, the National Famine Monument is large bronze sculpture that vividly depicts the notorious coffin ships that were routinely filled to the beams with weak and weary Irish emigrants seeking escape from the appalling conditions of the famine. Passengers on the coffin ships were often treated as little more than cargo, left to perish in these watery graves. The inhumane journey is starkly recreated in this powerful, disturbing monument. The sails on this famine ship are fashioned like skeletons, representing the misery of the trip to the New World for millions. In 2001, a sister monument was unveiled outside the United Nations building in New York. For those not up for the climb up Croagh Patrick, the road down to the sea leads to the ruins of the 15th century Augustinian Murrisk Friary, on the shore of Clew Bay.