The Housing Executive has erected a new memorial in Irvinestown to commemorate the County Fermanagh victims of the Great Famine (1845-1850) and those who made the perilous journey to a new life in America.

The memorial is part of a £40,000 investment by the Housing Executive’s Grounds Maintenance team, in partnership with Irvinestown Famine Graveyard Committee, which has seen the famine graveyard completely renovated and replanted with improved access.

The newly restored graveyard was officially opened by the Housing Executive’s South Region Manager, Comghal McQuillan, who was delighted with the outcome of the investment. “The site, where many Fermanagh victims of the Great Famine were buried, is now a ‘must see’ attraction for Irvinestown and will enhance the town’s heritage offering,” Mr. McQuillan states.

Poignantly, Isobel Humphries gave a short reflection on what the graveyard means to her as a relative of someone born in the local workhouse. Local children lay wild flowers at the new memorial stone and read a poem to mark the occasion. A reflection was given by local clergy and a piper closed the ceremony.

Much of the work involved improving access to the graveyard and memorial with a new path installed for wheel-chair users so the whole community can visit. In addition the Housing Executive’s grounds team examined all of the trees and arranged for a number of diseased ones to be removed replacing them with similar varieties to create a comparable landscape.

Mr. McQuillan, from the Housing Executive, commented: “I am delighted with the outcome of the work which our Ground Maintenance team has undertaken here in Irvinestown. This scheme is a clear example of how the Housing Executive contributes much more than bricks and mortar to a local community.

“I’d like to pay tribute to the Irvinestown Famine Graveyard Committee for their input and I’d particularly like to congratulate our Grounds Maintenance Manager, Uel Wright, and his team for the work they have done in transforming this site.” Breege McCusker, Chair of Irvinestown Famine Graveyard Committee, is “thrilled” with the work saying: “It is definitely now a must-see site for anyone interested in the history of the Great Famine and its effects in the County Fermanagh area.

“On behalf of the Committee I’d like to thank the Housing Executive for supporting this initiative and in particular Uel Wright and his team for the marvellous outcome.” The new memorial stone was created by stonemason Adrian McGovern. It highlights the towns in Fermanagh (Enniskillen, Irvinestown and Lisnaskea) which have work houses and famine graveyards as well as Ardess which has a famine pit. The ship represents those who sailed to a new life in America and Canada.