Irish Famine Memorial - Boston

The Irish Famine Memorial depicts two families and the schism between the old world and the new; the horrific past, and a hopeful future.

Two sculptures by Robert Shure show two families. One suffers the agony of the Great Hunger. The other family tentatively takes its first steps on American soil, representatives of the great Irish diaspora that caused millions to leave their homeland to escape death.

Part of Boston’s Freedom Trail, located on Washington and School streets, the bronze and granite memorial was dedicated in June 1988 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Famine. One and a half million Irish emigrated to America during the famine years.

For more on the memorial, have a look at this website. For more on sculptor Robert Shure, have a look here.