New York fundraiser for the Irish Famine Tribunal to examine legacy of the Great Famine in Ireland
Ahead of Fordham Law School assessment Tribunal aims to cover their costs with Manhattan fundraiser
Published Friday, September 21, 2012, 8:30 AM
Updated Friday, September 21, 2012, 8:30 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
14 Comments
Illustration of Irish family saying goodbye to immigrants during the Irish famine
The Irish Famine Tribunal has planned a fundraiser in South Street Seaport, Manhattan, ahead of the Fordham Law School assessment of the impact of the Irish Famine.
Those invited to attend are Irish Americans, Irish Diaspora, Legal, and human rights advocates.
To this day, the Irish Famine (also known as the Great Hunger) remains one of the most lethal famines in modern history in terms of deaths and dislocation of population.
On 20th October 2012, a Famine Tribunal will be held at Fordham Law School, New York City. The object of the Tribunal is to assess the impact of the Irish Famine on the Irish population, and to examine its political, economic, cultural, and physiological legacies, all within a legal framework.
A second day of activities will be devoted to educational issues, including a study of famine in today’s world.
The group have a cast of speakers for the fundraising event. These include Robert Ballagh, an Irish artist who will speak on the significance of the Tribunal from an International perspective.
Bernie Brophy, of the Brehon Law Society, in Australia, will speak on the famine orphans who were sent to Australia. And Christine Kinealy, a writer, along with Niall Mac Giollabhui, will speak on the Tribunal.
Guests will be treated to a night of music by select musicians including
Chris Byrne, Tara O Grady, Peadar Ó HÍcí, Bronagh O’Rourke, and Bob Batch.
For more information please visit: www.irishfaminetribunal.com
14 Comments
See all comments
bunkerhill | Sep 27, 2012, 03:13 PM EDT
Our Irish parents and ancestors passed on such a legacy of love to us that we can never forget their as yet unexplored ancient history and struggles for freedom. How many nationalities wrote about their homeland as a "little bit of heaven." Indeed so many Irish songs tell of their beautiful homeland, beloved parents, family, religion, beautiful women and brave men. Sadly many of the songs also tell of being forced to leave their beloved island, along with parents, family members and everything they loved. The Irish lived on the edge of the known earth and were most likely seeking peace and escape from the meglomaniacs who seemed to have destroyed the lives of so many worldwide so they could live in idle luxury with the occasional killing excursion.
I wonder if a fund could be set up by the Republic of Ireland government so the Irish diaspora could contribute whatever they can afford to our ancient homeland. Maybe it was the example of our beloved parents and ancestors and the way they worked together to overcome every adversity that came their way. However Ireland is too special in every way and everything they stand for must be preserved.
Report abuse
IrelandNorth | Sep 24, 2012, 08:03 AM EDT
Many macroeconomists still preach the divine gospel of radical individualism which underwrote Black '47. The potatoe was to the English what the buffalo was to the European forked tongued pale faces - a staple diet by which indigenous populations could be conveniently culled. And yes, many exiled Irish children did join the Union (and Confederate!) armies. One such notable being Lt Myles Keogh from Leighlinbridge (pron Loughlin!), Co Carlow. Sadly involved like many other Irish in slaughter of native Americans, as at Little Big Horn, Sth Dakota, being the last man standing at Gen George Armstrong Custer's Last Stand. (NB Researcher Colm Connolly did a wonderful documentary "The Bravest Man" on RTE TV in 1990s, the term attributed to Keogh by Crazy Horse. Probably YouTube-able?)
Report abuse
bunkerhill | Sep 23, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT
Many thanks to the great universities of Fordham and Quinnipuac for the ongoing research into righting the false information that was passed down in History. In truth the effects of the "holocaust" are carried by some Irish families to this very day and so many lives have been ruined even today. These beautiful, highly intelligent families carry chromosome changes that can cause a myriad of disorders such as Parkinsons, ALS, Compulsive disorders to name a few. The present day research shows that a starved person given sustenance will recover but can pass on a changed destructive chromosome to some of their offspring. The Netherlands received a hugh grant from an American foundation to study the chromosome changes in their WWII population, but to my knowledge Ireland has never received a dime. Oddly enough October 20th, the date of the symposium, is the birthday of the first Irish born person ever identified with such a disorder. All the present day research around the world stems from him. The Empire was nothing but monstrous world-wide plunder by a bunch of meglomaniacs living in castles. Even the native English did not escape starvation and they too carry the chromosome scars caused by these horrors. It is time to correct history and tell the true story so hopefully it will never happen again.
Report abuse
curtisjohnson | Sep 21, 2012, 07:41 PM EDT
"they need to stop going on about this famine, and start going on about whats happening their precious auld sod today" Yea, because the british terror state doesn't romanticize its worldwide history of atrocities with nostalgic self righeous triumphalism or anything.
Report abuse
curtisjohnson | Sep 21, 2012, 07:38 PM EDT
"Were it not for the shiploads of (Indian) corn impoted from the U.S., the starvation would have been much worse." True and the british terror state subsequently prevented the Sultan of Turkey from sending as much food as he wanted so that it could hasten the starvation. There are documented court cases of harsh punishments doled out for such grievous offenses as scraping seeweed (presumably as a source of food) from a rock owned in a seabed owned by anglo squatter overlords. The London Times was simultaneously celebrating the destruction and departure of the indigenous inhabitants.
Report abuse
Seanmor | Sep 21, 2012, 04:08 PM EDT
ladyo and brenv are correct in reminding the readership of the huge exports of food (grain, cattle, pigs, poultry etc) from Ireland during the period of the Great Hunger. The tenant farmers were forced to sell their livestock in order money to pay exorbitant rents to landlords and tithings to the Establshed Church. Were it not for the shiploads of (Indian) corn impoted from the U.S., the starvation would have been much worse. English Quakers and Methodists also provided financial aid, as did the Choctaw tribe of Native Americans, who held a fundraiser and collected $170. for the starving Irish
Do Dhein an Gorta Mór díobháil fhíochmar don teanga náisiúnta mar Gaeilgeoirí a ba cuid mhaith desna daoine a d'imigh thar lear um an dtrát sin. Wm. Smith O'Brien, the Limerick M.P. also deserves mention in connection with the Famine period. A leader of the Young Irelanders, O'Brien begged, implored, besieged his fellow M.P.s in the Commons to provide relief for the starving people of Ireland, but his impassioned pleas fell on deaf ears. Finally, out of sheer despertion O'Brien tried to start a insurrection, was captured, sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered, but was transprted to Tasmania instead. William Smith O'Brien is another one of our many Great Protestants Patriots.
Report abuse
TayandCake | Sep 21, 2012, 02:45 PM EDT
they need to stop going on about this famine, and start going on about whats happening their precious auld sod today
Report abuse
ladyofeire | Sep 21, 2012, 12:11 PM EDT
"Is i gcás ina mbeidh neart bia ann, ní fhéidir go mbeadh aon ghorta ar chor bith." Where there is plenty of food, there can be no famine at all.
"The failure of One Crop doesn't constitute a Famine. However, the removal of All crops constitutes Genocide."
"Ní dhéanann an teip a hAon Barraí ina Ghorta. Mar sin féin, is éard a bhaint Gach barra Chinedhíothú."
Please bear this in mind at the Tribunal. Millions of our Irish ancestors suffered the horrors of starvation and disease needlessly. If they had been given access to the food that was plentiful in Ireland at the time this would not have happened. The only crop that failed was the potato; the rest of the food was shipped to England at gunpoint. This does not constitute a famine, this constitutes a genocide.
Report abuse
brenvancouver | Sep 21, 2012, 10:44 AM EDT
The truth is out on why over 1 Million died in Ireland during 1845-48. Yes, the potato failed three years in succession. There still remained throughout Ireland sufficient food to feed the people but that food was exported from all the major ports of Ireland. 100,000 foreign troops were stationed in Ireland and they didn't succumb to any Famine. Why? Because there was no natural Famine in Ireland. For the dignity of all those that perished it is time that this horrific event in Ireland's History is appropriately named. i.e The Great Hunger is a title that is appropriate but certainly not "The Famine". For the dignity of those that died I sincerely hope the Tribunal will consider the above. Thank You.
Report abuse
Seanmor | Sep 21, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
As a English-born U.S. citizen, I hope that the orgamnizers of this fundraiser bear in mind Famine/Great Hunger immigrants from all parts of Ireland, not merely those who left the section of that country over which the Dáil now hold jurisdiction. I also think it would be a good idea if one or more of the speakers mentioned the 63,000 Famine survivors who joined the Union Army upon arrival in N.Y.C. in the early 1860s and played a significant role in reuniting the divided nation and aboloshing slavery.
Report abuse
handsome68 | Sep 21, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT
Dear friends at IrishCentral,
Thank you for posting my Comment (twice), but please delete one of them, which was an inadvertent mistake on my part.
John
Report abuse
handsome68 | Sep 21, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
Wish I could attend this, but will be in Spain when this occurs. Several years ago, New York University (to name one example) also had an enlightening symposium or examination of this subject. Too, Grosse Ile, a day trip from Quebec City, is very moving. In Ireland, in Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim, there is a "famine graveyard" and, of course, the famous Strokestown. My personal thinking is that it is time to stop obsessing on blame while reflecting on the loss, and to get on with life in the 21st century.
Report abuse
handsome68 | Sep 21, 2012, 09:36 AM EDT
Wish I could attend this, but will be in Spain when this occurs. Several years ago, New York University (to name one example) also had an enlightening symposium or examination of this subject. Too, Grosse Ile, a day trip from Quebec City, is very moving. In Ireland, in Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim, there is a "famine graveyard" and, of course, the famous Strokestown. My personal thinking is that it is time to stop obsessing on blame while reflecting on the loss, and to get on with life in the 21st century.
Report abuse
- Michelle Obama and daughters trace their...
- President Obama’s visit to North comes at...
- Body of Irish immigrant tossed in medical...
- Former church spokesman criticised for using...
- Sinn Fein deputy leader speaks out against...
- Daily Mail unloads on 'drunken young' Paddys...
- Irish kids receive almost $700 in Holy Communio
- North’s Minister for Finance accuses Republic...
- Shock as Irish priest praises Prime Minister’s.
- President Obama urges all of Northern Ireland...
Report abuse