National Famine Walk 2019

The National Famine Way - 'Famino' - is to be launched as a new National Trail in May 2019.

It is an Educational Outreach Project from the National Irish Famine Museum at Strokestown Park.

Previously you might remember the pilot walks in 2015 and 2017 ... you may have recently noticed the new section of pathway along the N5, close to Scramogue. New signage will be going up this week as part of ...the final steps ahead of accreditation of the National Trail by Sports Ireland.

The Trail walks in the footsteps of 1,490 Strokestown Famine emigrants who trekked some 165 km from Strokestown to Dublin in May of 'Black '47', mostly along the banks of the Royal Canal (the motorway of it's day in 1847!!).

Ahead of the May 30th launch of the Trail (which traverses the country from West to East ... and which can be done at anytime by anybody) a small core group of walkers will retrace the footsteps of Strokestown's 'Missing 1,490', setting off from Strokestown on May 25th for their 6 day trek.

With a trail-head at Strokestown Park House and at the Jeanie Johnston and Famine Statues at Custom House Quay in Dublin, the National Famine Way will be way-marked with evocative bronze 19th century children's shoes, which tell of the Famine experiences in all the areas the Walk passes through.

People are invited to join the Walkers for a short or long stretch ... those who would like to can register to become an 'Official Walker' on the Strokestown Park or National Famine Way websites. Walkers will be engaging with schools and other groups along the canal throughout the event.

Other educational Outreach Programs include the Irish Famine Summer School, Great Famine Voices Roadshow and Archive Stories.

For further information, check out the National Famine Way website ... We would be delighted for you to support us in any way you can 😀

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