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Beidh Cuimhneachán Náisiúnta an Ghorta Mhóir, i gcuimhne orthu siúd a d’fhulaing le linn an Ghorta Mhóir, ar siúl i mBaile na nGallóglach Contae Dhún na nGall Dé Domhnaigh 21 Bealtaine 2023. Is é an tUachtarán a dhéanfaidh feidhm oifigiúil ag an searmanas seo.
Osclófar an clár le searmanas agus críochnóidh sé le himeacht foirmiúil an Stáit, lena n-áireofar an Bhratach Náisiúnta agus onóracha míleata, agus leagan bláthfhleisce.
The National Famine Memorial Day, in memory of those who suffered during the Great Famine, will take place in Milford, Co. Donegal on Sunday 21st May. The President will officiate at this ceremony.
The programme will open with a ceremony and it will culminate in the formal State ceremonial event, which will include the National flag and military honours, and wreath laying ceremonies.
This national commemorative event takes place in a different local authority each year and Donegal County Council are honoured to host it at the site of the former workhouse in the outskirts of Milford Town, Co. Donegal in 2023.
There are limited tickets available on Eventbrite. Admittance to the ceremony is strictly ticketed, so please do not arrive without a valid ticket as you will be refused entry. We are operating a waiting list, so if there are no tickets available, please add your name to the waiting list so we can notify you if a ticket becomes available and you will have 1 day to claim your ticket.
The event will broadcast live on the day at 2pm on RTÉ News Now.
If anyone would like to tweet or share their own mini commemorative events on social media the day, please use #IrishFamine #FamineCommemoration #AnGortaMór
Ceremony Programme for the National Famine Commemoration 2023
Comóradh Náisiúnta an Ghorta Mhóir
Baile na nGallóglach, Co. Dhún na nGall
21 Bealtaine 2023
Réamh-Imeachtaí
13:15 Ceol le Banna 2ú Briogáid
13:30 Mórshiúl Gharda Onóra
13:50 Teacht i láthair Chathaoirleach Chomhairle Chontae Dhún na nGall, Comhairleoir Liam Blaney
Teacht i láthair Charlie McConalogue T.D., An tAire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara
14:00 Teacht i láthair Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn
Cigireacht ar Gharda Onóra, an 28ú Cathlán Coisithe
Tús an tsearmanais:
14:05 Aitheasc Fáiltithe Charlie McConalogue T.D., An tAire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara
Aitheasc Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn
Ceol: Noreen Bawn le Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Maoil Ruaidh
Léamh: Rogha scéalta faoin nGorta Mór ó Bhailiúchán na Scol sna 1930idí á léamh ag Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair
Amhrán: Dún Do Shúil le Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, le tionlacan ó Steve Cooney, Giotar
Dán: At a Potato Digging le Séamus Heaney.
Á Léamh ag Conaill Byrne agus Aoibheann Shields ó Choláiste na Maoile Rua, Baile na nGallóglach, agus Eilish Russell agus David Kennedy ó Phobalscoil Loreto, Baile na nGallóglach.
Paidreacha ar son Íospartaigh an Ghorta, faoi cheannas Shéiplíneach Óglaigh na hÉireann, an tAthair Jerry Carroll
15:00 Fógraíonn an reachtaire tús chomóradh foirmiúil an Stáit
Nochtadh chloch comórtha agus plandáil chrann darach ag Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUiginn, le cúnamh ó Alessandra Serra ó Scoil Náisiúnta Ayr Hill agus Nathan King ó Scoil Náisiúnta an Chraoslaigh
Searmanas leagan bláthfhleisce
Nóiméad ciúnais dóibh siúd go léir a fuair bás
Piper’s Lament
An Ghairm Dheiridh
Ardú bhratach na hÉireann
Reveille
An tAmhrán Náisiúnta
15:15 Deireadh an tsearmanais
Ceol: Rogha amhráin sciobóil, sleamhnán agus válsaí a sheinntear go coitianta ag tórraimh Mheiriceánacha agus damhsaí tí i nDún na nGall agus a bhaineann le fidléireacht Jim Doherty, as Lag na hÚraí, Cill Mhic Réanáin (1937 – 2012), Jim McFadden’s Barndance, John McGee’s Slide, Pull Down the Blind (Válsa), The Marine (Port), le Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Maoil Ruaidh
Seo a leanas ceoltóirí Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Maoil Ruaidh:
Anne Ferry, Fidil
Kathleen Crerand, Fidil
Martin McGinley, Fidil
Patrick McBride, Bosca Ceoil
Mick Denieffe, Bosca Ceoil
Gráinne Friel, Bosca Ceoil
Kevin Gallagher, Bosca Ceoil
Oisín Sweeney, Bosca Ceoil
John McFadden, Banjo
Geraldine McCluskey, Feadóg, Fliút
National Famine Commemoration
Milford, Co. Donegal
21 May 2023
Prelude:
13:15 Performance by Band 2 Brigade
13:30 Guard of Honour march on Parade
13:50 Arrival of Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Liam Blaney
Arrival of Charlie McConalogue T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
14:00 Arrival of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins
Inspection of the 28th Infantry Battalion Guard of Honour
Ceremony begins:
14:05 Welcome Address by Charlie McConalogue T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Address by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins
Music: Noreen Bawn, performed by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Maoil Ruaidh
Reading: A selection of local Famine stories from the 1930s School Folklore Collection, read by Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair
Song: Dún Do Shúil, performed by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, accompanied by Steve Cooney, Guitar
Poem: At a Potato Digging, by Seamus Heaney.
Read by Conaill Byrne and Aoibheann Shields from Mulroy College, Milford, and Eilish Russell and David Kennedy from Loreto Community School, Milford
Prayers for the Victims of the Famine, led by Chaplain to the Defence Forces, Fr. Jerry Carroll
15:00 MC announces the commencement of the formal State commemoration
Unveiling of commemorative stone and planting of Common Oak tree by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, assisted by Alessandra Serra from Ayr Hill NS and Nathan King from Creeslough NS
Wreath laying ceremony
Minute of silence observed for all those who died
Piper’s Lament
Last Post
National Flag raised to full mast
Reveille
National Anthem
15:15 Ceremony concludes
Music: A selection of barndances, slides and waltzes commonly played at American wakes and house dances in Donegal and associated with the fiddle playing of Jim Doherty, of Legnahoorey, Kilmacrennan (1937 – 2012), Jim McFadden’s Barndance, John McGee’s Slide, Pull Down the Blind (Waltz), The Marine (Jig), performed by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Maoil Ruaidh
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Maoil Ruaidh musicians are:
Anne Ferry, Fiddle
Kathleen Crerand, Fiddle
Martin McGinley, Fiddle
Patrick McBride, Button Accordion
Mick Denieffe, Button Accordion
Gráinne Friel, Botton Accordion
Kevin Gallagher, Button Accordion
Oisín Sweeney, Button Accordion
John McFadden, Banjo
Geraldine McCluskey, Whistle, Flute
For more information on the history of the Irish Famine in Donegal click here
