The National Famine Way™

In 2014, a glass wall memorial was unveiled to commemorate the 1,490 emigrants from Strokestown Park assisted to emigrate to Canada by Major Denis Mahon, up to half of whom perished during the transatlantic voyage on board ships like the Virginius and Naomi and in the fever sheds of Grosse Ile. The glass wall memorial now marks the trail head of the National Famine Way.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1860 on the site of an earlier structure and was extensively modified in 1959/60. There is a stark contrast between the interior and exterior, the interior being spacious and bright with colonnaded nave and the beautiful rose window shining over the altar.

St. Anne’s Church, where the Shoes are located, was built in 1839. Five families, 24 of the Missing 1,490 came from here. Nearby, Ballykilcline was the site of a famous Crown Rent Strike, the Ballykilcline Rebellion, in the mid-1840s. In 1847/48, 370 people were evicted as part of a Crown Assisted Emigration to New York City.

As the population of Ireland exploded, in the first part of the nineteenth century, people found themselves forced to live and take shelter in inhospitable locations rarely inhabited by humans such as up the sides of mountains like Sliabh Bawn and deep in bogs like Clonshanagh.

Part of the Mahon estate during the Famine years, this beautiful Shannonside village originates from an Abbey founded by St. Berach in the 6th century – the name of the village in Irish means roughly “Berach’s sanctuary”.

A small village situated where the Royal Canal terminates at the River Shannon, this was a bustling location in the 19th century. Look out for the ancient graveyard, the old Mill, Richmond Harbour and the Lock.

The Bronze Shoes are located here at one of the last vistas home across the Sliabh Bawn Mountain and the Strokestown hinterlands that many of our Missing 1,490 had left. Along this stretch would have been their final view of the lands they had woken to every morning of their lives and that they would never see again.

An 8.5km branch of the Canal ran from here to Longford Harbour, the scene of a tragic accident on 3 March 1845 when a passenger boat sank and seven passengers died. Longford is noted for its neoclassical Cathedral built mostly between 1840-56.

900m to Keenagh Village comprising a single winding street lined by buildings of varying heights. It is an estate village dominated by the elegant clock tower erected in memory of the Hon. Lawrence Harman King-Harman who died in 1875.

A 750m bog track leads to the fascinating Iron Age Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre. Locally known as Dane’s Road, it was constructed from oak planks in 148BC and is the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe. Call ahead to check opening times.

A bustling location in famine times, with ruins from 19th century commercial buildings on either side. Ballymahon Town is 1.7km from here. The restored passage-boat ticket office by the Bronze Shoes is well worth a visit.

A beautiful scenic award winning village with a famine pot feature in the little village green. The ruins of medieval Cistercian Abbey close by are also well worth a visit.

Largely established in the mid-18th century by the Malone family of Baronstown, who intended to create a linen industry in the area. While the linen trade failed to thrive, the Royal Canal Harbour with its hotel brought some prosperity to the town.

This canal harbour and 26th Lock was built around 1809 and is renowned beautiful picnic spot. Perhaps the Missing 1,490 rested here. The Christie/Crinnegan Family have been keepers of the Lock here since 1817 with family memories of the 1,490 passing through. Enjoy tea, scones, history and folklore in this idyllic setting.

At our half way mark, Mullingar is a large and vibrant midlands town with lots to see and do. In 1847 the Railway was being completed to reach here. The turnstile to the right of the shoes leads to the Cathedral and its museum via Paradise Gate – 200m.

A well worthwhile 3km detour which takes you by the remains of a large scale former union workhouse complex, one of the best surviving examples of its type in Ireland.

In 1806, the first canal boat reached the harbour at Piper’s Boreen on the south-eastern side of the town. Local pipers gathered along the boreen leading from the harbour to pipe the passengers off the boats. During the Famine years, they also played final farewell to numerous emigrants passing through Mullingar via the banks of the canal.

A tiny “Village” comprising a shop, pub and rustic remains of a railway station. Well worth this 100m short detour to soak up its quaint atmosphere.

Thomastown Harbour is home to the main Waterways Ireland Western Depot on the north bank just 100 m from the south bank. It is near the village of Killucan where the Church of Ireland Reverend Henry Ferris perished from typhus while caring for Famine victims in April, 1848.

You are now in County Meath. Meath, part of the historic and beautiful Boyne Valley, is an area abundant in heritage and lush green landscapes. From brave knights, castles and round towers to tales of emigrants, monks and ancient civilisations, Meath is brimming with stories, culture, attractions, festivals and fun. The rich valley is home to a range of heritage sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange and Knowth) as well as Ireland’s largest Anglo-Norman castle at Trim.
The Midland Great Western Railway train station opened in Hill O Down in December 1847. It is now a cosy cluster of buildings with a quaint traditional pub, shop and post office, located next to the bridge over the canal. It was reported that the number of men and boys employed on the railway works during the last week of May 1847, while our Missing 1,490 were walking, was 2,987. There were also 165 horses.

1.5 km to Longwood Village Green. Ribbontail Footbridge and country lane were built to bring Mass goers to Church in Longwood. Likely named after Ribbonmen, a secret agrarian society that fought for tenant’s rights.

Alongside the Canal at Moyvalley is Furey’s traditional Pub and Restaurant. A few kilometres away, is the Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Club, a new hotel built close to the site of the original Royal Canal Hotel, which opened to travellers in 1807. In the years that followed, it was reported to be ‘ the best of its kind and the best kept of any in Ireland’. When business began to decline, the canal company sought a tenant, but it did not fare much better.

An 1800s Bianconi’s horse-drawn carriage network hub, named for the Royal Oak Inn. A livery stable with fresh teams of horses existed opposite the old Post Office. Now a Famine Pot feature stands outside this heritage building.

Alongside the Canal at Moyvalley is Furey’s traditional Pub and Restaurant. A few kilometres away, is the Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Club, a new hotel built close to the site of the original Royal Canal Hotel, which opened to travellers in 1807. In the years that followed, it was reported to be ‘ the best of its kind and the best kept of any in Ireland’. When business began to decline, the canal company sought a tenant, but it did not fare much better.

An 1800s Bianconi’s horse-drawn carriage network hub, named for the Royal Oak Inn. A livery stable with fresh teams of horses existed opposite the old Post Office. Now a Famine Pot feature stands outside this heritage building.

A beautiful canal-side town famous for nationalist Poet Teresa Brayton’s song “The Old Bog Road” and for Larchill Arcadian Gardens, a “Ferme Ornée” or Ornamental Farm, the only surviving near complete gardens of its type in Europe. Check opening times.

A historic town and home to Ireland’s first Seminary in 1795 and extended to a Pontifical University in 1896. Echoes of Strokestown abide in this planned estate town with its wide street and nearby Carton House, designed by the same architect as Strokestown Park.

When the Canal was first proposed in 1789, it was never intended that it would run through Maynooth, but much further to the north. However, the 3 rd Duke of Leinster, a director of the canal company, had the canal rerouted through the town and past his house and Demesne at Carton.

300m to Confey shops, 1.1km to village. A lovely town on the River Liffey, home to Leixlip Castle with restricted opening hours. Before Confey at Louisa Bridge look out for the 19th-century Spa complex and Waterfall information boards.

St Mary’s Church of Ireland church is visible from the canal. It was built in 1846, replacing an earlier church of 1550 and is set in a peaceful graveyard with graves dating back to 1600. Interred in the church grounds is the body of Most Rev.

The 12th Lock and Talbot Bridge were once the site of a worsted textile mill. A lease was granted to Thomas Byran for a site to build a woollen mill here in 1822. When the mill went into production, it employed 80 -100 people, providing much employment for Blanchardstown, which was then a small village.

The 10th Lock at Ashtown is the site of a third mill, just beyond Longford Bridge. It is shown, on the 1837 Ordnance Survey Map, as a linseed oil mill. It was also, at times, a candle and polish factory. It is set back a little from the canal, but like the other mills its energy source was the canal water, with some of the mill race still visible.

There is a very short distance between the 5^th and ^6th Locks where you will see the Shandon Park Mill, originally a corn mill. It had many uses over the decades before being converted into apartments in 1994.
From the Bronze Shoes close to this location, the O’Connell Tower in Glasnevin Cemetery dominates the landscape. O’Connell’s death on May 15^th, 1847, would have been the talk of our 1,490, as they walked and likely reminisced about his Monster Meeting outside Roscommon in 1843, which some of them may have attended.

The Gaelic Athletic Association National Stadium, Museum, Shop and Skyline Tours are located on the canal bank across from the Bronze Shoes. Currently the third largest stadium in Europe, it has been home to All Ireland Finals since 1896. The 1947 All Ireland Final was played in New York, to mark the Famine Centenary, the only time it left this site.
The famous Stadium Canal End Stand dominates this section of the Canal. This site has a long association with sport. In the 1870s, it was the City and Suburban Race Course, but was generally referred to as Jones’s Road Sports Ground. It failed as a race course and was then hired out for various sporting activities, including athletics, boxing and ladies football. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) used the grounds frequently for hurling and football matches. The All Ireland finals were first held here in 1896. Originally the site contained 14 acres, but the Jesuit Community at nearby Belvedere College bought 4 acres and in 1913 the GAA bought the remaining 10 acres for £ 3,500.
The Croke Mark Museum is a short walk from the Bronze Shoes.

A ten-year project saw a replica of a Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship launched in 2003. Now a respected visitor and storytelling experience, she was licensed to carry 40 passengers and crew unlike the original, carrying up to 258.

Finally arriving at Dublin Quays, our Missing 1,490 would have filed up the quays to emigrant offices near the Custom House. They collect their tickets and board the steamship to Liverpool, where they would be held up a few days in fetid basements before boarding one of the four Mahon Ships. The place of their departure on Custom House Quay is commemorated by Rowan Gillespie’s Famine Sculptures and the Jeanie Johnston replica Famine Ship.