by
St. Brendan's N.S.
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Activities |
Famine Graveyard-Google MAP |
"We
went for a trip to an old graveyard beside St. John’s Hospital in
Balltytivnan. The graveyard represents people that died during the
famine. There’s a sculpture of a tree located in the middle of the
graveyard."
"The graves were underground. There is a gate
with about hundred skulls on it. It is to represent the people who
passed away abroad during the famine. There is a children’s
graveyard there too. "
"We went on a trip to the famine
graveyard. The thing that impressed me most was the very ornate
gate. On closer inspection I noticed that it was made of
interconnecting skulls. The skulls are too numerous to count. They
represent all the nameless people buried here during the great
hunger. It made me think of how hungry and malnourished the people
became because of the lack of food." |
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This Bronze Tree stands as a symbol
of dignity. It marks the final resting place of the un-named dead
of this area who perished in the great famine of 1845-1847. An
Gorta Mor was like a never-ending winter. It’s chill of desolation
brought, hunger, disease and death. In Ireland the lone tree or
‘Sceach’ was held in a position of high importance from early
Celtic Mythology to recent times. The boulder stones surrounding
the base allude to ancient forms of burial. “Mar sceach fe
thathaint na gaoithe Ta m’anam a lubadh anocht” The
sculptor of this tree is Fred Conlon the cousin of our classmate
Cathal Conlon. |
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This
is the Celtic Cross design in the children’s graveyard.
It
is made of stones, shells and sand.
In the Famine
Graveyard beside St. John’s Hospital there is a graveyard for
adults and children but its not like any other graveyard.
The people who were buried in this graveyard had no headstones.
They were just put in the ground any where.
People
with money might have a headstone but very little.
There
are a lot of sculptures in the Famine graveyard. Why don’t you go
have a look? |
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