Monday, 27th May 2024
On Sunday 19th May, Wicklow’s National Famine Commemoration Day event took place at Coollattin House, Shillelagh. The event was supported by Wicklow County Council, with thanks also to the many volunteers in the local community and the owners of Coollattin House.
The programme of events included addresses by Leas Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Councillor Gail Dunne and Cathaoirleach of Baltinglass Municipal District Councillor Edward Timmins. The emigrant songs Isle of Hope and Irish Heart were beautifully performed by Ellie Willoughby and the keynote lecture, 'Faces of Famine' was delivered by historian Kevin Lee.
There was a brief address from Canadian Paul Burns, who was on a visit to his ancestral home in Coollattin. Paul is a descendant of Simon Burns, who, as a 12 year old boy, sailed with his family on board the ill-fated 'Star', bound for St.John, New Brunswick. A memorial to all those who lost their lives in the Famine concluded the day, with a memorial tree planting followed by a lament from a lone piper.
Coollattin House was the Irish residence of the Earls Fitzwilliam who owned 85 thousand acres of land mainly in Co Wicklow. It is one of Ireland’s finest period houses and is now in the ownership of a consortium of seven business people, who are in the process of restoring the property. Kindly hosting the event, the owners conducted a fascinating tour of the house on the day. A history exhibition about the Coollattin emigrant programme was also on display.
The story of this emigrant programme and its influence in the development of the nation of Canada is documented in a book called Shoeboxes, From Wicklow Roots to Canadian Branches, by Kevin Lee and Canadian Tom Jenkins, a descendant of Coollattin emgrants. The history of the Coollattin Estate is also documented in a recently published book entitled Coollattin by Kevin Lee, further details of which can be found on www.coollattincanadianconnection.com
The digitised collections of Wicklow County Archives include the workhouse registers of nearby Shillelagh Union and also Rathdrum Union, both dating from pre-Famine times are available to view on www.wicklow.ie, and also at www.coolattinlives.ie .
Commending the Wicklow Famine Commemoration event, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Aoife Flynn Kennedy, said “It is truly fitting that this event took place at Coollattin House where so many left their homes on that estate during the Famine to make new lives in Canada resulting in countless thousands who can trace their ancestral home to south-west County Wicklow .”
Remembering those who lost their lives in County Wicklow during the famine, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council Emer O’Gorman said, “The Famine was a catastrophic event in our history. By 1851, County Wicklow had lost one quarter of its population through emigration and death. It was an honour to support this important event in their memory, particularly in Coollattin where so much was lost as a result of the Famine. My sincere thanks to all involved”.