View source for Murrisk Millennium Peace Park

{{Short description|Public park in County Mayo, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox park
| name           = Murrisk Millennium Peace Park
| photo          = National Famine Memorial, Murrisk-Muraisc - geograph.org.uk - 2554546.jpg
| photo_width    =
| photo_caption  = The National Famine Memorial within the park
| map            =
| map_label      = Murrisk Millennium Peace Park
| map_width      =
| type           =
| location       = [[Murrisk]], [[County Mayo]], Ireland
| nearest_city   =
| coords         = {{coord|53.7807|N|9.6405|W|display=inline,title}}
| area           = {{Convert|2.023|ha|abbr=on}}<ref name = mayoie>{{cite web |url=https://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/murrisk/history/millennium-peace-park.html|title=Murrisk Millennium Peace Park in Co. Mayo|publisher=mayo-ireland.ie|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref>
| created        = 2001
| operator       = [[Mayo County Council]]
| visitation_num =
| status         =
| designation    =
| open           = all year
| website        =
}}
The '''Murrisk Millennium Peace Park''' is a five-acre park located north of the [[R335 road (Ireland)|R335]] road overlooking the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the village of [[Murrisk]], [[County Mayo]], Ireland at the foot of [[Croagh Patrick]] mountain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.murrisk.com/|title=Murrisk, Co. Mayo in the West of Ireland|publisher=murrisk.com|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref>
The landscaping of the park was purposefully designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, allowing for clear views of neighbouring Croagh Patrick, [[Murrisk Abbey]] and [[Clew Bay]].<ref name = hmdb>{{cite web |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=27583|title=National Famine Memorial Cuimhneachán Náisiúnta ar an nGorta Mór|publisher=HMdb.org / THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE|date=2010-02-16|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref> The minimal landscaping also serves to reinforce the stark visual impact of Ireland's National Famine Memorial, the ''[[Coffin ship|Coffin Ship]]'', a sculpture which stands prominently in the park.<ref name = mayoie/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://irelandwesttours.com/locations/connemara/connemara-locations/61-national-famine-memorial|title=National Famine Memorial|publisher=irelandwesttours.com|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref> The unveiling of the memorial by [[President of Ireland|President]] [[Mary Robinson]] on 20 July 1997 predated the opening of the Millennium Peace Park by some four years.<ref name = IFM>{{cite web |url=https://irishfaminememorials.com/2014/01/16/murrisk-co-mayo-1997/|title=Murrisk, Co. Mayo (1997)|publisher=castlebar.ie|date=2014-01-01|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref>
The park was officially opened on 13 July 2001 by Minister [[Seamus Brennan]] [[Teachta Dála|T.D.]], Chairman of the National Millennium Committee which had funded the creation of the park through an award of £250,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlebar.ie/newsetc/papers180701-arc.html|title=What it Says in the Castlebar and Mayo Papers. July 18th, 2001|publisher=castlebar.ie|date=2001-07-18|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref> On the park's official plaque it is stated that it was "dedicated to 2,000 years of Christian worship".<ref name = hmdb/> During the opening ceremony a [[blessing]] was performed by the Rev. Michael Neary, [[Archbishop of Tuam]] and Rector Canon Gary Hastings.<ref name = hmdb/> The park also serves to pay tribute to the spiritual importance of neighbouring Croagh Patrick, a site which has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1,500 years.<ref name = hmdb/> The park lies across the road from the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre car park and a short distance away from the ruins of Murrisk Abbey, founded in 1457 by the [[O'Malley (surname)|O'Malley]] family. A natural spring pond also exists within the park.<ref name = hmdb/>
==National Famine Memorial==
[[File:Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo - geograph.org.uk - 674190.jpg|thumb|A view of [[Croagh Patrick]] through the monument]]
The National Famine Memorial ({{langx|ga|Cuimhneachán Náisiunta ar an nGorta Mór}}), designed by Irish artist [[John Behan (sculptor)|John Behan]], is Ireland's national memorial to the victims of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Irish Famine]]. It is a bronze sculpture measuring 30 foot long and 25 foot high.<ref name = CSM>{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/0731/805400-famine-memorial-for-mayo/ |work=[[RTÉ Libraries and Archives]] |title=Coffin Ship Monument|publisher=[[RTÉ]] |access-date=2024-09-20 |date=1996-07-31 }}</ref> The memorial consists of a coffin ship with skeletons interwoven through the rigging, symbolising the many emigrants that did not survive the journey across the ocean in search of tenable living conditions. The ship is sited prominently in the park and commands panoramic views over [[Clew Bay]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thewildatlanticway.com/waw/national-famine-memorial/|title=National Famine Memorial|publisher=thewildatlanticway.com|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://curiousireland.ie/the-national-famine-memorial-murrisk-co-mayo-1997/|title=The National Famine Memorial, Murrisk. County Mayo 1997 > a moving memorial to the victims of the famine|publisher=curiousireland.ie|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref>
===History===
In 1995 the Irish Government invited nominations for a suitable location for a National Famine Memorial to commemorate the event. [[Minister of State]] [[Avril Doyle]] T.D. was selected as Chairperson of the Government's Famine Commemoration Committee and met with members of the Murrisk Famine Memorial Committee in the village in November 1995 whilst looking at potential sites for the memorial.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.mayo.ie/media/Lyons%20Collection/Lyons%20Photographic%20Collection/album/Mayo%20places/Famine%20Memorial/index.html#Lyons00-21052.jpg|title=Third from left Avril Doyle talking to Michael Ring on her visit to the West looking for sites for the famine memorial. Centre is Harry Hughes, Chairman ; next is Breda Hyland member of the Murrisk Famine Memorial Committee, Sean Staunton, Westport and Johnny Groden, Murrisk.|publisher=library.mayo.ie|date=1995-11-16|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref> Murrisk was eventually chosen as the appropriate site as the committee felt that it was "...entirely fitting that the national famine memorial [..] be located in the west, which suffered most during the Famine with one in four of the population of Connaught dying in those terrible years."<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1997-03-26/69/ | title = Dáil Éireann debate – Wednesday, 26 Mar 1997. Vol. 477 No. 1 | publisher = [[Dáil Éireann]] | work = PQ Number [477/1] | date = 1997-03-26|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref><ref name = ABray>{{Cite web|last=Bray|first=Allison|date=2010-05-15|title=Minute's silence urged for victims of Famine|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/minutes-silence-urged-for-victims-of-famine-26655203.html|access-date=2022-08-12|website=[[The Irish Independent]]|language=en}}</ref> Murrisk is also situated close to the [[Doo Lough (Mayo)|Doo Lough]] valley, which witnessed the famine-era [[Doolough Tragedy]].
[[File:Sign at the National Famine Memorial, Murrisk-Muraisc - geograph.org.uk - 2554644.jpg|thumb|A sign at the entrance to the memorial]]
Artist John Behan was commissioned by the Government to create a sculpture that would encompass the magnitude of the suffering and loss endured by the people of Ireland during this time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/murrisk/history/national-famine-memorial.html|title=National Famine Memorial, Murrisk in Co. Mayo|publisher=mayo-ireland.ie|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref> The sculpture was the single largest casting in bronze ever carried out in Ireland and was managed by the [[Office of Public Works]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.mayo.ie/media/Lyons%20Collection/Lyons%20Photographic%20Collection/album/Mayo%20places/Famine%20Memorial/index.html|title=Famine Memorial|publisher=library.mayo.ie|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref> The main body of the sculpture was lowered into place by crane in January 1997<ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.mayo.ie/media/Lyons%20Collection/Lyons%20Photographic%20Collection/album/Mayo%20places/Famine%20Memorial/index.html#Lyons00-21057.jpg|title=The Famine Memorial, Murrisk 1997. - Lyons00-21057.jpg|publisher=library.mayo.ie|date=1997-01-06|access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref> and Behan began assembling the finer pieces shortly afterwards. The memorial was unveiled by Mary Robinson on 20 July 1997.
The site for the sculpture was provided by Mr. James Fair in honour of his parents Seamus and Brigid.<ref name = IFM/>
==Commemorations==
Ceremonies honouring the victims of the famine on National Famine Memorial Day (16 May), have begun in the past with candle-lit vigils in the Murrisk Millennium Peace Park centring on the National Famine Memorial.<ref name = ABray/> In 2010, Minister for [[Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media|Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs]] [[Pat Carey]] lead the official commemoration service with an address and wreath-laying ceremony, saying "No other event in our history can be likened to the Great Famine for its immediate impact or its legacy of [[Irish diaspora|emigration]], cultural loss and [[History of the Irish language|decline of Irish language]]."<ref name = ABray/> Ceremonies are also held at the [[Garden of Remembrance (Dublin)|Garden of Remembrance]], Dublin on the same day.
==See also==
* [[Great Famine (Ireland)]]
* [[List of memorials to the Great Famine]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:1997 sculptures]]
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Ireland]]
[[Category:Great Famine (Ireland) monuments and memorials]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Parks in Ireland]]