Grosse-Île in Quebec - The last resting place for over 6000 Irish Souls

Grosse-Île in Quebec - The last resting place for over 6000 Irish Souls: "he President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, visited Grosse Île on Sunday, August 21, 1994. On Feb 2nd. 1995 she addressed the joint houses of the Oireachtas (our parliament) with a speech entitled:

'CHERISHING THE IRISH DIASPORA'

President Robinson spoke of those 70 million or so throughout the world who claim Irish connections. Those who emigrated and who are decendants of those who left Ireland as explorers, as missionaries, as traders, during times of strife, famine, unemployment and recession over the past 400 years or so. Our Irishness is made up of a rich tapestry of history, yes even the bits of history some of us would decry and deny.

We are what we are and all who went before us!'

In Ireland, to mark the 150th Commemorative Anniversary of the famine, Rowan Gillespie was commissioned to provide pieces of sculpture and this group, simply entitled “Famine”, now sit on Dublin’s Custom House Quay. These six bronze figures will stand forever on the banks of the River Liffey, a port which saw many ships leaving, and a testimony to the suffering and despair caused by Famine.

'FAMINE'"