National Famine Monument
National Famine Monument
National Famine Monument
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
45 reviews
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Bean_Limerick 🇮🇪
Limerick, Ireland38,386 contributions
Jul 2020
This is a beautiful sculpture. The three masts remind one of the three crosses on Calvary. It is only when you get up close that you realise that skeletons make up part of the sculpture. It is a vivid reminder of how our ancestors suffered. A beautiful and sad work of art.
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MMKSt_Augustine_FL
St. Augustine, FL84 contributions
Oct 2022
Even from a distance this sculpture gave me a sense of foreboding and misery. What a grim reminder of the suffering of those souls during the famine. This is a very poignant depiction of suffering and a visceral attempt to escape hunger and death. I think anyone viewing this needs to do a bit of studying on the Great Famine beforehand. In true Irish fashion, this is understated and gripping in a deeply emotional way. It evokes the same feelings as the sculptures on the quay in Dublin. No explanation needed.
Written October 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trek702528
34 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
While your in the are a you might as well call to see it. I could do with a bit more information around it but nice to see all the same.
Written August 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen F
Southampton, UK184 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
The 'Coffin Ship' memorial has been here since 1997. It's quite a thing, and difficult if not impossible to capture the imagery and emotional punch with a photograph. Google 'coffin ships' to learn more. With this impressive monument, skeletal wraiths of the famine-dead swirl around a three-masted refugee ship, forming its rigging and fixtures. It's beautiful, haunting and melancholy - viewed with Croagh Patrick rising behind one way, or the view across fields and out to sea the other. Well worth a stop; it's easy to whizz by on the main road or down the lane, where the entrance is. Murrisk Abbey is down that lane, and worth a look too.
Written June 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JonS44240
Kent, OH18 contributions
Jun 2018
Can you imagine a ship made of skeletons and bones? From a distance this monument looks like a slightly odd, lumpy black ship. As you get closer, you see that it comprises one skeleton after another, not in a ghoulish way, but a completely heart-wrenching way. This is not a wordy, intellectual memorial, but a visually striking and deeply moving one.
Written February 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RoseMarigold77
Inishbiggle, Ireland74 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
I was in Murrisk a few weeks ago and saw this from the road. It looked like a graceful and lovely old sailing ship and the symbolism even of that appealed.
Today I went back and walked across the field to the ship, When I got close I realised that the whole ship, ropes and all,were grimacing, tormented skeletons ..impossible not to feel shock and revulsion .. and of course a success for the work of art it is.
You have to be close to it to see it; some wisdom in that indeed. I think some of the reports saw it only from the road as I did the first time.
I too would have, even with my wide knowledge re famine times, have welcomed a simple descriptive reminder of figures etc.
Never will I drive through Murrisk again without shuddering. Lest we forget..
Today I went back and walked across the field to the ship, When I got close I realised that the whole ship, ropes and all,were grimacing, tormented skeletons ..impossible not to feel shock and revulsion .. and of course a success for the work of art it is.
You have to be close to it to see it; some wisdom in that indeed. I think some of the reports saw it only from the road as I did the first time.
I too would have, even with my wide knowledge re famine times, have welcomed a simple descriptive reminder of figures etc.
Never will I drive through Murrisk again without shuddering. Lest we forget..
Written May 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EximiousTraveller
Leicester, UK2,388 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
The Great Famine National Monument is in an exposed position and framed nicely by mountains to its rear and, appropriately, the sea to front. It some ways it is dwarfed by the space around it but it is an impressive piece of public art and rather gruesome the closer one gets to it. It would have been better to have more detail on information boards but it was worth calling in to see this on the way to Clifden by a stunning drive on the R335 via Delphi.
Written May 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim O
Ireland27 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
A Sculpture of a famine ship on the foot hill of Croagh Patrick, It lacks information of what the famine was about and it could do with seating for weary legs. Still worth a visit only if your visiting the area.
Written August 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LFL101
Chicago, IL151 contributions
Oct 2019
Very moving. Take time to really examine the details, the skeletons representing those trying to escape the famine only to die aboard ships traveling to the States.
Written October 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John M
Lyon, France1,957 contributions
Aug 2019
The National Famine Monument, unveiled in 1997 by President Mary Robinson, is located directly opposite the carpark at the foot of Croagh Patrick. This is a very scenic area, on the south side of Clew Bay, about 2.5 miles east of the seaside town of Lecanvey and 5 miles west of Westport. The monument is a bronze memorial that depicts a Famine Ship, with emaciated skeletons symbolising the many people who fled from Ireland in hopes of starting a new life abroad, over one hundred and fifty years ago.
Hunger and unhygenic conditions on the ship meant that many did not survive the trip.The ship known as a "Coffin Ship" has skeletal bodies hanging from the sides in the rigging, to represent the dead souls of refugees. This striking monument is a deeply touching commemoration of the millions who perished in the Great Famine
Hunger and unhygenic conditions on the ship meant that many did not survive the trip.The ship known as a "Coffin Ship" has skeletal bodies hanging from the sides in the rigging, to represent the dead souls of refugees. This striking monument is a deeply touching commemoration of the millions who perished in the Great Famine
Written October 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about National Famine Monument
- Hotels near National Famine Monument:
- (0.10 mi) Croagh Patrick Lodge
- (0.13 mi) Murrisk Apartments
- (0.62 mi) Croagh Patrick Hostel & Cottages
- (0.36 mi) Newly renovated cottage at the foot of Croagh Patrick
- (1.14 mi) Bertra House B&B
- Restaurants near National Famine Monument:
- (0.05 mi) Campbell's at the Reek
- (0.18 mi) The Tavern Bar & Restaurant
- (0.12 mi) Stauntons Pub
- (4.94 mi) Friends bistro
- (5.00 mi) Arno's Bistrot
National Famine Monument Information
Excellent Reviews | 24 |
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Very Good Reviews | 17 |
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