A group of Irish Defence Forces veterans have set off on a 170km march along Ireland’s historic Famine Trail, raising vital funds for Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), a national charity supporting homeless and vulnerable veterans.
The seven-day journey began on Monday morning from the Strokestown Famine Museum in County Roscommon. The veterans, all aged 60 and over, will retrace the harrowing path taken by 1,490 famine emigrants in 1847. The march will pass through six counties—Longford, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare, and finally Dublin—culminating at the Famine Memorial outside EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum on Sunday, May 18, to mark National Famine Commemoration Day.
The route covers 23km to Cloondara, Longford, the first leg of the journey. Along the way, the veterans are being supported by members of the Defence Forces and a team of fellow ex-service personnel. Members of the public are encouraged to cheer them on and donate online.
Strokestown Park House, home of the Irish Famine Museum.
The Famine Trail commemorates a tragic chapter in Irish history. In 1847, amid the devastation of the Great Hunger, 227 families were evicted from the Strokestown Estate. Forced to walk 170km to Dublin, they hoped for a better life abroad. From Dublin, they sailed to Liverpool and boarded so-called “coffin ships” bound for Canada. More than two-thirds died during the journey.
Now, this symbolic retracing serves not only as an act of remembrance, but also as a vital fundraising effort for today’s Irish veterans in crisis.
“This event is not only a powerful act of remembrance, but also a symbol of solidarity, resilience, and the ongoing support our veteran community needs and deserves,” said ONE CEO and Defence Forces veteran Cormac Kirwan.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone taking part and to those supporting the cause along the way.”
ONE (Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann) provides accommodation, advocacy, and mental health support for veterans through its homes in Athlone, Cobh, Dublin, and Letterkenny. Since 1994, the charity has supported over 1,000 formerly homeless veterans and continues to expand, with plans for new homes in Cork City, Limerick, Galway, Kildare, and Louth.
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