Famine Conference in Strokestown

A conference on how Ireland's Great Famine legacy could allow Ireland help prevent famine and hunger in today's developing world will be held on Thursday next at Strokestown Park in County Roscommon, writes Brian Byrne.

The event, which is under the auspices of NUI Maynooth and the OPW/NUI Maynooth Archive & Research Centre, will feature discussions from a variety of specialists and will look back at issues in the time of the Famine and in similar and potential real famine today.

It's also a good opportunity to visit one of Ireland's great historic estates, which is the home of the National Famine Museum.

The Conference begins at 1pm. Those participating include John O’Driscoll, Director of Strokestown Park; Ciarán McCabe; Kevin McKenna; Pat McCarrick, Fundraising Projects Director, Bothair; Fidelma Byrne; Brian Casey; Regina Donlon; Ciarán Reilly; Professor Terence Dooley, Department of History, NUI Maynooth; and Patrick Kenny, Chairman of Westward Group.

ED NOTE: I know this is a little 'off topic' for the Diary, but Strokestown and the Famine legacy which still has resonances for today is always worth a visit, not least because it is also a 'Big House' very much in restoration to a former glory and which we are fortunate to have in the country not redeveloped as a golf course.