Plans unveiled to mark 175th anniversary of Great Famine protest meeting on Slievenamon

The 175th anniversary of the Young Irelanders’ Monster Meeting on Slievenamon’s summit to protest against the export of food during The Great Famine, will be commemorated with a re-enactment of the historic gathering on July 16.

The commemoration of the 1848 monster meeting attended by between 20,000 and 50,000 people, is being organised by Lingaun Valley Tourism, the people of Kilcash and other communities surrounding Slievenamon.

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It will include a hike up to the cairn on Slievenamon’s summit, a re-enactment of the monster meeting and lecture along with a music, cultural and historical festival in Kilcash. A children’s art project will also be run in local schools.

The monster meeting was organised by the Young Irelanders, led by William Smith O’Brien MP, Thomas Francis Meagher and Michael Doheny, during the height of The Famine. It was the first time the Irish tricolour flag was displayed at a large scale event.

A band from Cashel led the Young Ireland leaders to the summit to meet the large assembly.

The idea of marking the 175th anniversary of the 1848 Monster Meeting on Slievenamon was envisaged by Dr Tom McGrath of Ballingarry 1848 House Museum with Robert Duggan of Lingaun Valley Tourism last summer.

A number of well attended meetings have already taken place in Kilcash to plan the commemoration and the organisers have received support from Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, Clonmel Borough District and Tipperary County Council’s Arts, Heritage and Tourism officers.

The organisers began their promotion campaign for the commemoration at the St Patrick’s Day Parades in Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel and Kilkenny last Friday.

Michael Keogh, chairman of the organising committee, said grants and local funding of approximately €5,000 have been committed so far but more funding is needed to host the commemoration.

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If the commemoration is successful, he said the committee intend to make it an annual event attractive to locals and tourists including members of the Irish diaspora, especially those whose ancestors emigrated due to The Famine

More information on the 175th anniversary commemoration is available on the Slievenamon 1848 Commemoration Facebook and Instagram accounts.