The National Famine Way Roadshow™ is on tour
A brand new National Famine Way™ Roadshow goes on tour during May and June 2025. The Roadshow will be held in seven locations along the route of the long distance walk. Featuring talks and presentations by leading local and international famine historians, this will be a fascinating event bringing a poignant part of our history to life. Appropriately the month of May marks both the anniversary of the mass departure of 1,490 emigrants from Strokestown, Co. Roscommon and the annual National Famine Commemoration.
The National Famine Way™ Roadshow is presented by the Irish Heritage Trust in collaboration with the seven local authorities along the trail (Roscommon County Council, Longford County Council, Westmeath County Council, Meath County Council, Kildare County Council, Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council).
Each event will include high profile speakers including Caroilín Callery, founder of the National Famine Way™; Dr Jason King, Academic Coordinator of the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, and the Irish Heritage Trust; Dr Eamon McKee former Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, keen historian and an instrumental force in the Global Irish Famine Way, and local expert historians who can explain the famine emigrant story with county specific knowledge. An opportunity to ask questions of the experts will be offered.
Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no admission charge but registration in advance (by emailing nationalfaminewayroadshow@gmail.com) is requested. Please see the website for updates on speakers at your local event www.nationalfamineway.ie
Speaking about the Roadshow, Caroilín Calleary said, “Touring with this Roadshow gives us a chance to visit each of the communities along the route again making the history of the Irish famine more visible. We hope to deepen the connections in each while honouring the memory of Strokestown’s missing 1490”.
The National Famine Way™ is a 165km way marked walking and cycling trail commemorating a heartbreaking walk of forced emigration which took place in 1847 at the height of the Irish famine. It begins at the memorial glass wall at The National Famine Museum | Strokestown Park in Roscommon and continues through six counties to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin’s Docklands. The route is poignantly marked by more than 30 pairs of bronze children’s shoes and the route and associated stories can be followed through a free app. Walkers can also purchase an official passport to get stamped along the route.
National Famine Way™ Roadshow Dates
Monday 19th May 3-5pm Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon
Tuesday 20th May 3-5pm Ballymahon Library, Co. Longford
Wednesday 21st May 3-5pm Leixlip Library, Co. Kildare
Thursday 22nd May 2-4pm Trim Library, Co. Meath
Thursday 22nd May 6-8pm Mullingar Library, Co. Westmeath
Tuesday 3rd June 5.30-7.30pm Blanchardstown Library, Fingal, Dublin 15
Thursday 5th June 3-5pm Charleville Mall Library, Dublin 1