National Famine Museum/Strokestown Park.
29th May – 1st June 2025
Join us at the 2025 Famine Summer School for stimulating talks from leading academics, an art exhibition, live drama and film, all exploring the legacy of the Irish Famine of the 1840s.
The theme of the 2025 Famine Summer School is “Humanitarianism and Hunger”.
From Indigenous and settler communities in North America to India and the Sultanate of Ottoman Empire, as well as Great Britain and in Ireland, private individuals and groups across class divides raised funds and risked their lives in a humanitarian response to Ireland’s Great Hunger (1845-1852) that often contrasted with official responses. The 2025 Famine Summer School explores the comparisons and contrasts between the historical context and the challenges of humanitarian responses to the Great Hunger and famines in the world today.
Speakers at the event will include renowned Famine academics, Mark G. McGowan and Christine Kinealy, Robert G. Kearns, and the Irish Ambassador to Canada, Eamonn McKee.
More information available soon.
Dr. Eamonn McKee, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada
About the Famine Summer School
The Irish Famine Summer School is an annual international conference that explores the history and impact of An Gorta Mór.
It brings together leading Famine scholars to share their ideas and research and is an opportunity to exhibit work from talented artists and playwrights who have been inspired to create work based on the Famine.
Key Speakers and Contributors to this year’s event
Professor Mark G McGowan is a Professor of History and Celtic Studies and Principal Emeritus at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. He has published extensively on the religious and emigration history of Canada, and the history of the Irish community in Canada.
Professor Christine Kinealy is the Director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute and Professor of History at Quinnipiac University. She has published extensively on the Great Hunger and on the abolition movement in Ireland.
Lance Daly is the Director of the award-winning 2018 film Black ’47. Set in Ireland during the Great Famine, the drama follows an Irish Ranger who has been fighting for the British Army abroad, as he abandons his post to reunite with his family.
Dr. Eamonn McKee was appointed Ambassador of Ireland to Canada in October 2020. He has a particular interest in the commemoration of Irish Famine emigrants in Canada.
Robert G. Kearns is Chair and Founder of the Canada Ireland Foundation which celebrates and commemorates the story of the Irish in Canada. Its mission is to create and maintain commemorative public spaces such as Ireland Park and Grasett Park in Toronto.
Caroilin Callery is a Director of the Irish Heritage Trust and the Westward Group. She is recognised for her work in establishing the National Famine Way and building connections between the National Famine Museum and international universities and institutions.
Michael McBane is the author of Bytown 1847: Élisabeth Bruyère & the Irish Famine Refugees (2022); John Egan: Pine and Politics in the Ottawa Valley (2018); and “Irish Famine Stories in the Ottawa Valley,” Oral History (1996).
Irish Heritage Trust: Bringing Heritage to Life
“In the Midst of Plenty”, a new folk musical set during the Great Hunger, was first performed at the reopening of the new National Famine Museum in 2022. It is about to embark on a nationwide tour.
As part of our weekend program contributors and attendees are encouraged to attend a new production of this work at Roscommon Arts Centre on the evening of Friday 23rd June.
Please note that this is a separately ticketed event and is not included as part of the Summer School ticket.
The 2025 Famine Summer School is held in partnership with Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University
The 2023 Famine Summer School is funded in part by Roscommon County Council, Roscommon Tourism, Fáilte Ireland, the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, and Westward Holdings.
