Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Great Famine was a catastrophe that affected communities throughout the island of Ireland and indeed abroad.  This is reflected in large the number of memorials erected by local communities to be found throughout Ireland and in those countries to which victims of the Famine fled in search of relief.

The National Famine Memorial in Murrisk, County Mayo, commissioned by the Government as part of its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine, was unveiled by President Mary Robinson in July 1997. Murrisk was also the site of the 2010 National Famine Commemoration organised by the National Famine Commemoration Committee. 

The main objective of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, which was established in 2008  is to consider the most appropriate arrangements for an annual national commemoration of the Great Famine.   The involvement of local communities, local authorities, and appropriate state entities in the annual commemoration Central to the approach of the Committee. 

The first National Famine Commemoration to integrate both local input and formal State ceremonials was held in Skibbereen in 2009. Since then, the event has been held annually in a similar dual format in Murrisk (2010), Clones (2011), Drogheda (2012), Kilrush (2013), Strokestown (2014), Newry (2015), Glasnevin Cemetery (2016) and this year in Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary.  The unveiling of a commemorative plaque has been an integral part of each of these events, with the permanent placement of the plaque at a local site decided by the local organisers.

The 2018 National Famine Commemoration will take place next May in University College Cork.  As previously advised to the House, the National  Famine Commemoration Committee decided last year to hold this year's Commemoration in UCC in recognition of the University's long tradition of research and study of the Famine including the publication of the Atlas of the Great Irish Famine, which was co-funded by my Department, and the development of the associated Website, which also is being co-funded by my Department,  and which will be launched as part of this years event. Once again a commemorative plaque will be commissioned to mark the holding of this year's ceremony.