Events

2025 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (26th Anniversary)

The 2025 Great Irish Famine Commemoration, held on Saturday, 16 August drew a large audience. The program featured keynote speaker Professor Jeff Kildea, who delivered “This Monstrous Injustice: Colonial Resistance to the Earl Grey Famine Immigration Scheme.” Addresses were also given by Patrick Corr, President of the GIFCC, and Martyn Killion from Museums of History NSW. Music was provided by Evelyn Shanley and Jimmy McLoughlin, and Dr Anne Casey moved the audience with her poem “Idir Oispidéal Galair agus Teach na mBocht” (Between the Fever Hospital and the Poorhouse). The day also included the presentation of the Great Irish Famine Memorial Award and a moving wreath-laying ceremony.

Watch the livestream of the event here.

2024 FAMINE MEMORIAL (25th Anniversary)

The 2024 Famine Commemoration was held on the 25th August, sponsored by the Consulate General of Ireland, Sydney. Rosie Keen, Consul General or Ireland gave the welcome, followed by addresses by Mary Darwell, Museums of History NSW CEO, and Perry McIntyre AM. Music was provided by Cliona Molins and Jacqui McPhee. Awards were also presented for outstanding students at Western Sydney University.
See a Livestream of the event here.

2023 INTERNATIONAL FAMINE MEMORIAL (24th Anniversary)

Each year, a location within Ireland and another outside of Ireland, is chosen to host the International Famine Commemoration.

Sydney had the honour of being chosen for the International Famine Memorial of 2023. This event took place on the 21st of July.

An Irish Minister was in attendance on behalf of the Irish Government, as were a number of local VIPs.

2020 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (21st Anniversary)

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 30th of August.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions the event was limited to 20 people but was Livestreamed to audiences around the world.

2019 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (20th Anniversary)

Sr Vivienne Keeley

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 25th of August.  The guest of honour was Sr Vivienne Keeley.

Twentieth Anniversary Videos

2018 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (19th Anniversary)

Paul Lynch MLC

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 26th of August.  The guest of honour was Mr Paul Lynch MLC, who spoke about the contemporary importance of the Irish orphans.

See below for a copy of the address.

2017 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (18th Anniversary)

Dr Jeff Kildea

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 27th of August.  The guest of honour was Dr Jeff Kildea, historian.

See below for a copy of the address.

2016 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (17th Anniversary)

Rev. Tim Costello AO

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 16th of August.  The guest of honour was Rev. Tim Costello AO.

Video of Address

2015 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (16th Anniversary)

Peter Watts

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 28th of August.  The guest of honour was Peter Watts, Emeritus Director, Historic Houses Trust, the Director responsible for the building of the Memorial.

See below for a copy of the address.

2014 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (15th Anniversary)

Richard O’Brien

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 31st of August.  The guest of honour was Richard O’Brien, Former Irish Ambassador to Australia who as Irish Ambassador at the time was instrumental in building the Memorial.

See below for a copy of the address.

2013 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (14th Anniversary)

Jimmy Deenihan TD

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 25th of August.  The guest of honour (from Ireland) was Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht- who has been involved in all of our International Famine Commemorations.

See below for a copy of the address.

2012 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (13th Anniversary)

Brendan Graham

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 26th of August.  The guests of honour were Brendan Graham, Irish composer and novelist, Singer, songwriter Sarah Calderwood and the Australian Girls choir. Descendant Melissa Plant also spoke.

See below for a copy of their addresses.

Brendan Graham, Irish composer and novelist

  Melissa Plant, descendant of Mary O’Hare from Galway

Australian Girls’ Choir

IRISH HERITAGE AWARD

This prestigious award was presented to Jim Edwards, the descendant of Hannah Rafferty on the 9th of December 2011.

See below for a summary.

2011 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (Twelfth Anniversary)

Frank Brennan SJ AO

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 26th of August. Guests of honour were members of the Irish Diplomatic Corp including the Irish Consul-General Ms Caitriona Ingoldsby.

Wreaths were laid and music and song allowed all to mingle with friends, both old and new. Traditional Irish hospitality was shared by all.

See below for a copy of the address by our honoured guest, Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO.

2010 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (11th Anniversary)

Evelyn Conlon

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 29th of August. The guest of honour was Irish author, Evelyn Conlon, whose address was entitled ‘Disembarking Silence’.

See below for a copy of the address.

2009 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (10th Anniversary)

Tom Power and Reverend Professor James Haire

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on Sunday 30th August.  The day featured an introduction by GIFCC Chairman, Tom Power, followed by an address by Reverend Professor James Haire, PhD DD DLitt, Executive Director, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Canberra.

See below for a copy of the address.

2008 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (9th Anniversary)

Dr Richard Reid

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 31st of August. The rain held off, music and catering were as good as always and attendance was up on previous years.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Richard Reid, the curator of a major exhibition on the Irish in Australia at Australian Museum in Canberra due to open in 2011.

See below for a copy of the address.

2007 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (8th Anniversary)

Mike Bailey

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 27th of August- the Master of Ceremonies was Mike Bailey. A book launch, together with poetry readings were the order of the day.

The Macquarie University prize was also presented for the first time.

2006 CHRISTMAS DAY MASS

See below for a summary of the Mass, as well as the reaction back in Ireland.

2006 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (7th Anniversary)

Dr Jennifer Harrison

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 2nd of September. The guest speaker was Queensland historian, Dr Jennifer Harrison. Guest of honour was Mr Patrick Scullion, Consul-General of Ireland who moved the vote of thanks.

See below for a copy of the address.

2005 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (6th Anniversary)

Thomas Keneally

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 27th of August. Guest of honour was Thomas Keneally, who in his address, likened the misery of the Irish orphan girls who came through Hyde Park Barracks to the desperate plight of the Sudanese refugees in Darfur today.

See below for a copy of the address.

2004 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (5th Anniversary)

Susan Ryan

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 29th of August. Tom Power, GIFCC Chairman thanked many of the people involved and introduced the speaker for the day, the Hon Susan Ryan.

See below for a copy of the address.

2003 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (4th Anniversary)

Cheryl Mongan

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 17th of August. The speaker was Cheryl Mongan, co-author of ‘A Decent Set of Girls’: The Irish Famine orphans of the ‘Thomas Arbuthnot’ 1849-185.

Cheryl focused on those who went to Yass, initially accompanied by Surgeon Charles Strutt, who had cared for them on their voyage.

See below for a copy of the address.

2003 VISIT BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE

This event occurred on the 13th of March 2003.

See below for a summary of the visit.

2002 VISIT BY PRESIDENT MARY ROBINSON

This event occurred on the 10th of November 2002.

See below for a summary of the visit.

2002 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (3rd Anniversary)

Dr Shirley Fitzgerald

The GIFCC Famine Commemoration took place on the 8th of September 2002. The new Irish Ambassador to Australia, Declan Kelly and his wife, Bernadette, were welcomed by Tom Power and our speaker for the day, Dr Shirley Fitzgerald, City of Sydney Historian was introduced.

See below for a copy of the address.

2001 FAMINE COMMEMORATION (2nd Anniversary)

Dr Trevor McClaughlin

The 2001 GIFCC Famine Commemoration was attended by Mr Seamus Brennan, Minister of State in the Department of the Taoiseach, Minister of State in the Department of Defense and Government Chief Whip.

An address was also delivered by Dr Trevor McClaughlin.

See below for a copy of the address.

THE UNVEILING OF THE MONUMENT TO THE GREAT IRISH FAMINE

Martin Coleman, Claire Dunn and President Mary McAleese

The unveiling of the monument to the Great Irish Famine took place on the 28th of August 1999.

The Master of Ceremonies was Martin Coleman, supported by Claire Dunn. President Mary McAleese sent a message of thanks, as well as a pledge from the Irish Government.

This was matched at a later date by the Commonwealth of Australia.

See below for a summary of the event.

PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE INAUGURATES THE MONUMENT TO THE GREAT IRISH FAMINE

The inauguration took place on the 2nd of September 1998.

See below for a summary.

FUNDRAISING DINNER 

The fundraising dinner for the Irish Famine Monument was held on the 7th of August 1998.

Premier Bob Carr addressed the attendees.

See below for a summary of the address.