The monument erected by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Cohasset Central Cemetery commemorates the Irish immigrants killed in the Brig St. John shipwreck in 1849.Ireland Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

Ireland's 2026 International Famine Commemoration will be hosted in Cohasset, Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 10.

The International Famine Commemoration is held annually to honor the victims of An Gorta Mór and to acknowledge its deep impact across the world. This year is the 14th commemoration. 

Ireland's Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, will be leading this year's event and delivering a keynote address.

Along with Minister O'Donovan's keynote address, the formal State ceremony on Sunday will feature performances by Irish and local artists, and a wreath-laying ceremony.

This year's ceremony has been organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston, the local Irish-American community, and Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Speaking of the event, Minister O’Donovan said: “There are few regions that can claim as great a place in the history of the Irish diaspora than Massachusetts.

"The Great Irish Famine, An Gorta Mór, drove thousands from their communities, their land, and the only lives they had ever known. Massachusetts is just one of the communities across the US where they found refuge, succour, and opportunity. Today, we give thanks as we see the legacies forged across this great state.

“It is also hugely fitting that this commemoration takes place here in Cohasset. Not only is it a town with a deep tradition of Irish settlement, but it bore witness to one of the great tragedies of Famine migration. Here in 1849, the Brig St John sank in a storm within sight of the shore. Despite the valiant efforts of the locals, nearly all on board were lost to the sea. We are reminded of how great a risk these men, women, and children took in committing their lives and futures to the Atlantic crossing, as well as the brave efforts of the community here to try and save as many as possible.”

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Since its establishment in 2008, the International Famine Commemoration has been hosted in cities around the world with strong Irish connections, including New York, Sydney, Liverpool, and Toronto.

This year's International Famine Commemoration is being hosted a week before Ireland's National Famine Commemoration, which will be staged at the Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna, Co Galway, on Sunday, May 17.