If you are going to visit Dublin you may be interested in stopping by and seeing The Famine Memorial which is was made to honor the Irish people from the 19th century that were forced to emigrate during the Irish Famine. I had never heard of the Great Irish Famine and had no idea that over one million people died of hunger during that time and around two million people emigrated in a period of a little more than ten years.
These statues are on the River Liffey, about a 15 minute walk from the center of town.
I think the artist, Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie, did an outstanding job in capturing the pain and sorrow on their faces. The sculptures are very tall, over six feet which elongates their bodies and really heightens the depth of their suffering. Having the dog as a sculpture also shows you how the famine effected animals.
Something about this sculpture below is haunting to me. The depth of the eyes and the expression on his face carries such despair, and the fact that he is carrying what I assume is his child further drives the point home about the severe hunger they must have felt. You may think I’m crazy but because I have been to places where people don’t have enough food to eat, I never say, “I’m starving.” It’s something people say often but I’m never starving, I’m just hungry and my hunger can be fulfilled eventually.
Whoa, these are so haunting. I’ve heard of the famine, but these sculptures really capture the pain. And the dog sculpture, which I think is brilliant, makes it even more heartbreaking.
I will no longer say I’m starving either. Thanks for these pics and the lesson.