The year 2025 marks a new edition of the National Commemoration of the Great Famine in Ireland, a poignant tribute to the millions of victims and the generations marked by this historic tragedy. The city of Limerick will host this momentous event, bringing together citizens, officials and international representatives in a moment of reflection and remembrance.
The Great Famine, which struck Ireland between 1845 and 1852, remains one of the darkest episodes in the country’s history. Triggered by a disease of the potato, the population’s main source of sustenance, this food crisis led to the deaths of around a million people and forced more than a million others into exile. Its impact has shaped modern Ireland and its diaspora, with millions of Irish descendants around the world, including in the USA, Canada and Australia.
Each year, the National Commemoration of the Great Famine takes place in a different county, highlighting the areas particularly affected by this tragedy. Limerick, a port city in the west of Ireland, was one of the major centers of suffering and emigration during this period. The port of Limerick was a crucial point of departure for many Irish people fleeing famine, boarding ships for an uncertain future.
The selection of Limerick to host the 2025 ceremony aims to honor this collective memory and raise awareness of the famine legacy in the region.
The event, organized in the presence of Irish political figures and foreign dignitaries, will feature several highlights:
Beyond the event itself, the National Commemoration of the Great Famine serves as a reminder of the importance of remembrance and historical transmission. It also serves as a reminder of the contemporary challenges of poverty, forced exile and food insecurity around the world.
Limerick 2025 is thus part of an ongoing process of remembrance and commitment, to ensure that this tragedy is never forgotten, and that its lessons are passed on to future generations.
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