Famine Ship Memorial
Galway
One of the reasons I love Galway/Salthill... with The Famine Ship Memorial, Celia Griffin Memorial Park, Gratton Beach in the background. Under those names is known this spot. And for a good reason... The Great Famine, mainly - 1845 to 1852 was a pivotal moment in Irish history. It led to disease, starvation, many deaths and mass emigration. This monument consists of a central piece of limestone, which originated as a memorial to Celia Griffin, a 6 year old girl who died in the city of starvation in 1847. Ships that carried thousands of emigrants from Ireland were known as the coffin ships because many died on the journey across the Atlantic Ocean.