An Gorta Mor

An Gorta Mor. , The Great Hunger Memorial , Kenneth M. Thompson, Sculptor , Dedicated September 19, 2004 ,

An Gorta Mor, or the Great Hunger Memorial was constructed in honor of those lives lost to the Irish Potato Famine, a devastating catastrophe that struck Ireland from 1845 to 1850. With the loss of its potato crop for five successive years, Ireland's rural population was driven to near extinction. One million died, while two million emigrated to save themselves from a similar fate, most of those emigrants came to America.

When the Irish arrived in Michigan, what they saw was the answer to their prayers rich with lakes and streams, surrounded by fertile fields perfect for farming and abounding with wildlife. Many came to this area known as the Irish Hills, reminiscent of the Ireland they left behind.

The main focus of the Great Hunger Memorial is the post-Lintel structure constructed from two limestone columns that support a lintel. The lintel, actually one of several steps that formed Penrose Quay In Cork Harbor (Ireland), is suspended over a large empty bronze bowl that symbolizes the great. hunger.' The sculpture is immediately surrounded by cobbles from Donegal (Ireland) and encompassing the cobbles is a circle or path' of slate that Represent the journey made from Ireland to America. The hardscape turns from a circle to a square that is bordered by pavers that bear the names of the thirty-two counties of Ireland in English and Gaelic. Beneath each paver is reliquary containing a stone from that county. The four corners bear the names of the four provinces.