At the foot of Croagh Patrick, facing out towards Clew Bay stands the National Famine Memorial.
The sculptor of the 'Coffin Ship' by John Behan was unveiled by Mary Robinson, then President
of Ireland in 1997 to mark the 150 year anniversary of The Great Famine. During that great
national disaster it was estimated that 1 million people perished and another million were
forced to emigrate when the potato crops failed. Mayo was one of the places worst affect
since 90% of the population were totally dependent on the potato as a staple diet.
 
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"Coffin Ship"
National Famine
Memorial
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