Launch of Irish Famine Way route

[Gerry Callaghan]

The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 167 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin.

This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Quebec.

The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked 167km walking trail that connects the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, with Rowan Gillespie’s Famine memorial on Custom House Quay in Dublin along the banks of the Royal Canal. It allows walkers to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown to Canada on some of the worst of the coffin ships during the summer of 1847.

More information on the route :

National Famine Way Launched - Irish Heritage Trust

Ireland’s Newest Heritage Trail Launched Thursday 30th May 2019: A group of walkers including international Famine experts arrived this evening …

www.irishheritagetrust.ie

More information on the harrowing story of the 1490 :

National Famine Walk: ‘Remember your soul and your liberty’

Famine scholars are about to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants forcibly exiled to Canada from Denis Mahon’s Strokestown estate

www.irishtimes.com

The route is beautiful, through the fields, bogs and woods of Ireland. In today's world, with 58.5 million forcibly displaced people, it's important to remember and honour these victims.

 

[Former member 49149]

The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 167 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin.

This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Quebec.

The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked 167km walking trail that connects the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, with Rowan Gillespie’s Famine memorial on Custom House Quay in Dublin along the banks of the Royal Canal. It allows walkers to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown to Canada on some of the worst of the coffin ships during the summer of 1847.

More information on the route :

National Famine Way Launched - Irish Heritage Trust

Ireland’s Newest Heritage Trail Launched Thursday 30th May 2019: A group of walkers including international Famine experts arrived this evening …

www.irishheritagetrust.ie

More information on the harrowing story of the 1490 :

National Famine Walk: ‘Remember your soul and your liberty’

Famine scholars are about to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants forcibly exiled to Canada from Denis Mahon’s Strokestown estate

www.irishtimes.com

The route is beautiful, through the fields, bogs and woods of Ireland. In today's world, with 58.5 million forcibly displaced people, it's important to remember and honour these victims.

Funnily enough, on Tuesday, rushing to get to my volunteer work, I saw the logo of same, on a piece of street furniture. The photo I took didn’t come out well, but thanks for giving the reason i saw it. I tried to figure out that walk last summer, but it defeated me, from accommodation point of view. Instead I walked down along the River Barrow.
I hope it will be easier to do the walk after wards, as I can’t manage it this time... Thanks so much for posting.

 

[p_mci]

Very interesting. Thanks for the post!

 

[happymarkos]

The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 167 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin.

This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Quebec.

The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked 167km walking trail that connects the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, with Rowan Gillespie’s Famine memorial on Custom House Quay in Dublin along the banks of the Royal Canal. It allows walkers to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown to Canada on some of the worst of the coffin ships during the summer of 1847.

More information on the route :

National Famine Way Launched - Irish Heritage Trust

Ireland’s Newest Heritage Trail Launched Thursday 30th May 2019: A group of walkers including international Famine experts arrived this evening …

www.irishheritagetrust.ie

More information on the harrowing story of the 1490 :

National Famine Walk: ‘Remember your soul and your liberty’

Famine scholars are about to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants forcibly exiled to Canada from Denis Mahon’s Strokestown estate

www.irishtimes.com

The route is beautiful, through the fields, bogs and woods of Ireland. In today's world, with 58.5 million forcibly displaced people, it's important to remember and honour these victims.

Thanks Gerry,
Best time of the year to do?
What accommodation is available on the way? Is it hostel style or b&b/ pubs?
Regards
Mark

 

[Gerry Callaghan]

It's not a difficult route, on the canal towpath almost all the way. If you don't mind occasional rain Spring, Summer or Autumn should be fine. Winter is doable too if you are happy to deal with the short days.
There are lots of hostels in Dublin. Everywhere else it's pubs or B&B.

 

[mairtín]

							The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 167 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin. This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Quebec. The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked 167km walking trail that connects the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, with Rowan Gillespie’s Famine memorial on Custom House Quay in Dublin along the banks of the Royal Canal. It allows walkers to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown to Canada on some of the worst of the coffin ships during the summer of 1847. More information on the route : National Famine Way Launched - Irish Heritage Trust Ireland’s Newest Heritage Trail Launched Thursday 30th May 2019: A group of walkers including international Famine experts arrived this evening … www.irishheritagetrust.ie More information on the harrowing story of the 1490 : National Famine Walk: ‘Remember your soul and your liberty’ Famine scholars are about to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants forcibly exiled to Canada from Denis Mahon’s Strokestown estate www.irishtimes.com The route is beautiful, through the fields, bogs and woods of Ireland. In today's world, with 58.5 million forcibly displaced people, it's important to remember and honour these victims. Hi Gerry, this is very interesting, thank you. Is there any information to be found on the first section from Strokestown to Clondra - is it mapped or waymarked or on/off-road? I did a google but couldn't see anything. I might actually be able to join in on the 25th.

 

[Gerry Callaghan]

It's on road and waymarked but, as I've not done it yet I can't say exactly where it is.
My best guess is https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Stro...175a0!2m2!1d-7.9043919!2d53.7311034!3e2?hl=en
This has about 3km on the N5, which is not terribly busy, and all the rest on very quiet country roads.

 

[Former member 49149]

The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 167 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin.

This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Quebec.

The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked 167km walking trail that connects the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, with Rowan Gillespie’s Famine memorial on Custom House Quay in Dublin along the banks of the Royal Canal. It allows walkers to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown to Canada on some of the worst of the coffin ships during the summer of 1847.

More information on the route :

National Famine Way Launched - Irish Heritage Trust

Ireland’s Newest Heritage Trail Launched Thursday 30th May 2019: A group of walkers including international Famine experts arrived this evening …

www.irishheritagetrust.ie

More information on the harrowing story of the 1490 :

National Famine Walk: ‘Remember your soul and your liberty’

Famine scholars are about to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants forcibly exiled to Canada from Denis Mahon’s Strokestown estate

www.irishtimes.com

The route is beautiful, through the fields, bogs and woods of Ireland. In today's world, with 58.5 million forcibly displaced people, it's important to remember and honour these victims.

May 30th, Thursday,. would love to be there at the famine Statues. Too bad the cycle path is not yet finished, but if at all possible I will be there if any idea of time is produced...

 

[Gerry Callaghan]

May 30th, Thursday,. would love to be there at the famine Statues. Too bad the cycle path is not yet finished, but if at all possible I will be there if any idea of time is produced...

The details of the stages are posted on http://nationalfamineway.ie/the-national-famine-walk-2019/ The days seem to all finish at 5pm

 

[mairtín]

It's on road and waymarked but, as I've not done it yet I can't say exactly where it is.
My best guess is https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Stro...175a0!2m2!1d-7.9043919!2d53.7311034!3e2?hl=en
This has about 3km on the N5, which is not terribly busy, and all the rest on very quiet country roads.

Thank you .

 

[La Rubia]

Adding this to my "future walks" list. My mom's Irish were famine immigrants, although to the U.S., not to Canada, and it would be a lovely way to honor their memory.

 

[Davina1]

The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 167 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin.

This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Quebec.

The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked 167km walking trail that connects the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, with Rowan Gillespie’s Famine memorial on Custom House Quay in Dublin along the banks of the Royal Canal. It allows walkers to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown to Canada on some of the worst of the coffin ships during the summer of 1847.

More information on the route :

National Famine Way Launched - Irish Heritage Trust

Ireland’s Newest Heritage Trail Launched Thursday 30th May 2019: A group of walkers including international Famine experts arrived this evening …

www.irishheritagetrust.ie

More information on the harrowing story of the 1490 :

National Famine Walk: ‘Remember your soul and your liberty’

Famine scholars are about to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants forcibly exiled to Canada from Denis Mahon’s Strokestown estate

www.irishtimes.com

The route is beautiful, through the fields, bogs and woods of Ireland. In today's world, with 58.5 million forcibly displaced people, it's important to remember and honour these victims.

Wonderful to honour these poor souls! Thanks for drawing people's attention to it! Davina

 

[TomAptos]

Thank you for this item. I would love to walk this route and will start researching it further. In addition to getting to visit Ireland for a good walk this appeals to me because my great grandparents emigrated from Ireland to the US in 1847. Though they may not have walked this particular route it will be inspiring to think that the might have.

 

[p_mci]

Hello all,
I walked this way last week following these stages and with all accommodation reserved on booking.com

0. Dublin/Ballina bus to Strokestown (Westgate B&B)
1/. 18km to Termonbarry (Keenan's hotel)
2/. 35km to Abbeyshrule (Abbeyview B&B)
3/. 28km to Mullingar (Annebrook House Hotel)
4/. 29km to Clonard (3/4km off the way) (Clonard B&B)
5/. 31km to Maynooth (Maynooth University Campus accommodation)
6/. 26km to Dublin (my house)

Highly recommended walk, any questions ask away.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Accommodation costs? And would tenting be possible?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hello all,
I walked this way last week following these stages and with all accommodation reserved on booking.com

0. Dublin/Ballina bus to Strokestown (Westgate B&B)
1/. 18km to Termonbarry (Keenan's hotel)
2/. 35km to Abbeyshrule (Abbeyview B&B)
3/. 28km to Mullingar (Annebrook House Hotel)
4/. 29km to Clonard (3/4km off the way) (Clonard B&B)
5/. 31km to Maynooth (Maynooth University Campus accommodation)
6/. 26km to Dublin (my house)

Highly recommended walk, any questions ask away.

Thank you for providing all these details. My preferred walking per day is between 20-25km. Can your stages be shortened and still have accomodations available?

 

[wayfarer]

Accommodation costs? And would tenting be possible?

No info on the costs, you should be able to google the establishments, but tenting should be possible along the tow paths.

 

[p_mci]

Accommodation costs? And would tenting be possible?

Accommodation was pricey, from €60 - 100 per night/ single occupancy (booking.com prices). A Google search might produce other accommodation options along the way. An experienced and discreet wildcamper could manage it for sure but no official campsites that I could find.

 

[malingerer]

The Irish Heritage Trust and Strokestown Park house are launching the National Famine Way walking trail with a six-day 167 km walk from Strokestown to Dublin from May 25th to May 30th 2019. The route follows the Royal canal from the Shannon river to Dublin.

This is to remember the 1490 people who walked from Strokestown to embark on emigrant ships in Dublin in May 1847. A large number of these people died either on the ships from Liverpool or on arrival in the fever sheds at Grosse Isle in Quebec.

The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked 167km walking trail that connects the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, with Rowan Gillespie’s Famine memorial on Custom House Quay in Dublin along the banks of the Royal Canal. It allows walkers to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown to Canada on some of the worst of the coffin ships during the summer of 1847.

More information on the route :

National Famine Way Launched - Irish Heritage Trust

Ireland’s Newest Heritage Trail Launched Thursday 30th May 2019: A group of walkers including international Famine experts arrived this evening …

www.irishheritagetrust.ie

More information on the harrowing story of the 1490 :

National Famine Walk: ‘Remember your soul and your liberty’

Famine scholars are about to follow in the footsteps of the 1,490 tenants forcibly exiled to Canada from Denis Mahon’s Strokestown estate

www.irishtimes.com

The route is beautiful, through the fields, bogs and woods of Ireland. In today's world, with 58.5 million forcibly displaced people, it's important to remember and honour these victims.

my ancestors on my mother's side are from Donegal. The scars from the years of hunger are still apparent. Thank you for your post.

samarkand

 

[p_mci]

Thank you for providing all these details. My preferred walking per day is between 20-25km. Can your stages be shortened and still have accomodations available?

Re. Possible alternative accommodation (you would have to do a Google search for phone numbers)

Before Mullingar:
In Cloondara, a few km after Termonbarry, there's the Richmond Inn. Between there and Abbeyshrule there's a couple of options in Ballymahon (Cooney's hotel and Skelly's guesthouse). But between Abbeyshrule and Mullingar there's nothing en route. You could organise a pick-up and drop off with your Mullingar accommodation to shorten a stage or two.

After Mullingar:
Mary Lynches pub at McNeads bridge had a sign outside saying B&B accommodation available. Then the lady in Cunningham's shop and bar (signposted from the canal) at the Heatherstown Bridge said she does air B&B by prior arrangement. I only stayed in Clonard because there was no accommodation in the official stage end of Longwood. But you could stay in Kinnegad and arrange a pick up/drop off to/from there. In Moy valley there's a hotel and then a couple of options south of the m4 before Enfield (Johnstown Estate) as well as a B&B on the way into Kilcock. But once you reach Enfield the canal runs coincides with the Western suburban train line which you can then use to go back and forward and reach accommodation between Enfield and Dublin.

 

[p_mci]

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Thank you for all the extra comments regarding my question.

 

[wayfarer]

You might find this article interesting.

165km National Famine Way launched - 'The trail has the potential to open up rural Ireland'

A new National Famine Way has been launched, following the footsteps of 1,490 emigrants who walked from Strokestown, Co Roscommon, to Dublin at the height of the famine in 1847.

m.independent.ie

 

[simonpc]

whats the marking like on this route? also are there many services in-between for food etc?

 

[VictorE]

Thank you