National Famine Way Roadshow includes Mullingar on 2025 tour
A new National Famine Way Roadshow that is on tour during May and June includes Mullingar among seven locations along the route of the long distance trail.
Featuring talks and presentations by leading local and international famine historians, the event will bring 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, County Roscommon and the annual National Famine Commemoration.
The Mullingar event is on Thursday May 22 (6-8pm) in Mullingar Library and everyone is welcome to attend. There is no admission charge but registration in advance (by emailing nationalfaminewayroadshow@gmail.com) is requested.
The Mullingar Roadshow includes speakers Caroilín Callery, founder of the National Famine Way; Dr Jason King, academic coordinator of the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, and of the Irish Heritage Trust; Dr Eamon McKee, former ambassador of Ireland to Canada, historian and an instrumental force in the Global Irish Famine Way; and Mullingar historian Ruth Illingworth.
An opportunity to ask questions of the experts will be offered.
For updates on speakers see nationalfamineway.ie.
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.
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 1,490.”
The National Famine Way is a 165km way marked walking and cycling trail commemorating a heartbreaking walk of forced emigration 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 the Dublin Docklands.
The route is 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 19 May, 3-5pm, Strokestown Park House, County Roscommon
Tuesday 20 May, 3-5pm, Ballymahon Library, County Longford
Wednesday 21 May, 3-5pm, Leixlip Library, County Kildare
Thursday 22 May, 2-4pm, Trim Library, County Meath
Thursday 22 May, 6-8pm, Mullingar Library, County Westmeath
Tuesday 3 June, 5.30-7.30pm, Blanchardstown Library, Fingal, Dublin 15
Thursday 5 June, 3-5pm, Charleville Mall Library, Dublin 1