Galway to host 2026 National Famine Commemoration
· IrishCentralGalway County Council has officially confirmed that the 2026 National Famine Commemoration will take place at the historic Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna. This significant occasion represents the first time the county has hosted the annual state ceremony since the commemorative initiative began in 2008.
The state ceremony, which will include military honours and a wreath-laying, will be broadcast live on national television. Newly elected President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, is expected to deliver the keynote address from the site of the former Portumna Workhouse.
Alongside the formal commemoration, Portumna will host a conference on the Irish Famine, bringing together leading scholars and researchers. A bilingual workbook for children is also being developed to support schools, offering accessible material on the Famine and the workhouse system.
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The Portumna Workhouse, opened in 1852 and regarded as one of the most complete surviving complexes of its kind, has become a hub for lectures, exhibitions, and cultural events. This will be the first time the National Famine Commemoration has been held in County Galway since the annual initiative was established in 2008.
Councillor David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, said the National Famine Commemoration would be a national moment of reflection and a chance to highlight Galway’s famine story.
“Hosting the Commemoration in Portumna is a deeply significant moment for Galway,” he said. “The Irish Workhouse Centre, the only dedicated workhouse museum in the country, stands as a powerful reminder of the hardship endured by our ancestors. The Commemoration will honour the victims of the Famine while also helping to raise the Centre’s profile as both a visitor attraction and a place of reflection and remembrance.”
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said the local authority will work closely with the National Famine Commemoration Committee, Elected Members, the Irish Workhouse Centre, and key regional stakeholders to produce a commemoration programme that appropriately marks the historic occasion.
Read more
- “We were nothing and nothing could be done for us” - an Irish Famine account
- Eyewitness account of a Great Famine workhouse on Christmas Day 1847
“With its facilities, capacity, and strong local connections, the Centre is an ideal venue to host a respectful and meaningful national event,” he added. “The regeneration of Portumna Courthouse earlier this year, along with ongoing work at Portumna Castle, the harbour, and forest trails, creates a real opportunity for the whole town to be involved in a way that complements the solemn and reflective nature of the Commemoration.”
Michael Owens, Director of Services for Galway County Council, noted that Galway County Council’s bid to host the National Famine Commemoration in Portumna reflects the profound impact the Great Famine had on the county, where thousands suffered, died, or were forced to leave.
“With its original buildings, extensive grounds and experience hosting large gatherings, the Centre is an ideal setting to remember those affected by the famine,” he said. “The Council, Centre and local community, including schools, volunteers and cultural groups, are committed to working with the National Famine Commemoration Committee to deliver a programme that is respectful and engaging.”
County Galway’s bid to host the event was supported by a range of local organisations and individuals, including Portumna Tidy Towns, South East Galway Integrated Rural Development CLG, Portumna Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, the County Archivist, and the City and County Librarian.
Galway County Council says further details of the 2026 National Famine Commemoration programme will be announced in January. Information on the national initiative is available at irishfamine.ie, and details on the Irish Workhouse Centre are available at irishworkhousecentre.ie.
Watch this short film about the Irish Workhouse made with the help of the Galway Film Centre:
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