This page was created by Ellen Rethwisch.  The last update was by Ben Deetz.

Star of the Sea : A Postcolonial/Postmodern Voyage into the Irish Famine

United Kingdom

The “Liverpool Famine Memorial” pictured here was designed by Eamonn O’Doherty, and completed in 1998 after being commissioned by The Great Famine Commemoration Committee of Liverpool. Inscirbed on the front of the memorial in both Irish and English is “Remember the Great Irish Famine 1845-52.” Additional plaques describe how Ireland today is the only country in Europe where the population in 1845 was higher than what it is today as a result of over one million Irish dying from starvation and disease. They then acknowledged the causes of the famine were rooted in early centuries, taking some responsibility as colonizers. It lists a few interesting stats: Between 1849 and 1852 1,241,410 Irish emigrants arrived in Liverpool with no help from the English government and in 1847 alone over 7,000 were buried there in mass graves. It then acknowledges the distinctive contributions Irish migrants have made in Liverpool including adding contribution to the multi-cultural heritage of the city. The final plaque is arguably the most powerful and reads: “This sculpture is dedicated to the memory of all the Famine emigrants. Let us acknowledge their suffering. Let us continue the work of helping those displaced by famine and disease in many parts of the world. Let us dismantle those systems which still cause suffering.” The purpose of memorials in a postcolonial context is oozing out of each and every word on this final plaque, and supports the discourse suggested in this section of the website.

Works Cited
Mark-Fitzgerald, Emily. "Irish Famine Memorials." Irish Famine Memorials. Wordpress, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.
Researcher/Writer: Ben Deetz
Technical Designers: Abbey Benson and Ellen Rethwisch

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