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On October 16, 1998, Ireland's President Mary McAleese Visited Boston's Irish Famine Memorial


Photo: President McAleese and Tom Flatley Receive flowers from School Children at Famine Memorial

Ireland's President Mary McAleese visited Boston's Irish Famine Memorial on Friday, October 16, 1998, joining the memorial's Chairman Thomas J. Flatley, local public officials and leaders from Boston's Irish-American community. A children's choir from St. Mary of the Hills grade school in Milton serenaded the attendees. 

The president's visit to the memorial park was part of a 12-day visit to the United States and Canada. While in Boston, McAleese visited the staff and patrons of the Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston and the Irish Immigration Center.  She visited the Connolly House at Boston College, the new home of the college's Irish Studies program.  She  spoke at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The day she spoke at the Memorial, McAleese shared with the 200 people gathered that the Nobel Peace Prize Award had just been given to John Hume and David Trimble for their work for peace in Northern Ireland.

McAleese said the Memorial "represents a painful and momentous part of our history; it represents too survival and courage, of overcoming adversity of the hardest kind. I know that this site has already become a place for reflection and learning, not just for Irish people, but for many other nationalities too. In doing so, we seek not to apportion blame, rather to honor those who were lost, to acknowledge those who survived and who found a life here."

She added that the memorial is "a very important place, not just of pilgrimage, but of reflection and learning and, indeed, not just for Irish people but for other nationalities too."

McAleese praised the memorial organizer Tom Flatley,  sculptor Robert Shore and the committee for its work on the project.  

"I want also to pay special tribute to Tom Flatley, this remarkable Irishman, who led and guided the project from the beginning. He has played an exceptional role in Boston’s business community and has contributed a great legacy to the life of this city. To him, to the sculptor Bob Shure, to the Famine Memorial Committee and staff, I offer our warmest congratulations," she said. 


Officially unveiled earlier in 1998, on June 28, the Boston Irish Famine Memorial commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine of the 1840s that forced thousands of Irish to flee Ireland, many of them landing in Boston. 


On June 28, 2023, the famine memorial committee gathered with local officials, Irish organizations and immigrant groups to observe the 25th anniversary of the memorial's unveiling.  Among the attendees were Sculptor Robert Shure and the children of Tom Flatley.  Details here.  Read Congressional Proclamation from US Congressman Stephen Lynch.  




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