The Irish Hunger Memorial in the Battery Park City area of lower Manhattan will be closed to the public effective immediately for necessary repairs.
Adrian Flannelly, Irish cultural liaison for the Irish Hunger Memorial, made the announcement this week.
Extensive damage caused primarily by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 resulted in major leakage and structural instability. The demolition and reconstruction will be completed in late spring 2017.
Read more: Shock at $5.3 million bill to fix damaged New York Irish Hunger memorial
The Famine cottage and potato field, designed by artist Brian Tolle, was transported from Flannelly’s home parish of Attymass, Co. Mayo in 2001.
The 96’ x 170’ memorial contains stones from each of Ireland’s 32 counties, and is elevated on a limestone plinth. Along the base are bands of texts separated by layers of imported Kilkenny limestone.
The text, which combines the history of the Great Famine with contemporary reports on world hunger, is cast as shadow onto illuminated frosted glass panels.
Read more: Remembering the Famine – the memorials in North America
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