PICTURES: County Limerick village unveils famine memorial stone

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“A MEMORIAL to the unknown, Acknowledging their plight. Disappeared into darkness, Hidden, buried out of sight. In a common grave forgotten, Identity faded into the past. With dignity now honoured, Forever in history to last.”

A verse by Jim Larkin, of Knockroe, entitled The Famine Stone of Kilteely captures perfectly what occurred in a wet and windy graveyard last Thursday.

The community of Kilteely -Dromkeen came out in force to attend the unveiling of a Famine Memorial to mark the site of a common famine grave in Kilteely graveyard. A beautiful commemorative stone was unveiled by Mayor John Moran and John Owen O’Keefe who travelled with his family from America. 

In a heartfelt message, Mr O’Keefe recalled his great granduncles emigrating from the townland of Knockroe, Kilteely to build new lives in Connecticut. He then spoke of how his father Owen O’Keeffe, who had taken part in Dromkeen Ambush, and subsequently was an officer in the National Army during the Civil War had emigrated to the USA in 1929.  

Mr O’Keefe said he was delighted to have the opportunity to be a benefactor and participate in the unveiling of the stone in memory of those that lost their life, or had to leave the place they called home due to starvation and eviction.  Fr Tomas O’Connell led attendees  in a Famine prayer.

Artist Orla Hickey made presentations to Mayor Moran and Mr O’Keefe. Dennis and Trish Day, of Wisconsin, were also heartily thanked as benefactors. 

The event was planned and managed under the leadership of John McCarthy and Marie Chavan with their team in Kilteely Tidy Towns supported by the graveyard committee and local historian Ed O’Dea. An important respite from the rain was a marquee provided by John and Mary Bohan.

The evening concluded with a lecture in the community hall by Mr O’Dea on the impact of the Famine.