Jim Callery.
90-year-old Jim Callery, the founder of the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park in Co Roscommon, has announced the final total of his fundraising effort to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Callery raised an impressive €165,200 for four immigration charities by walking the entire length of the National Famine Way from the National Famine Museum in Strokestown, Co Roscommon to EPIC, the Emigration Museum in the Dublin docklands in October.
This equated to over €1,000 for every kilometre walked.
Donations came from all over the country, the UK, the US, Europe, and even Australia, from friends, family, and business associates.
Speaking at the cheque presentation event which took place at Strokestown Park House on Wednesday, December 11, Callery said: “My heartfelt thanks to those who donated and to those who came and walked a stretch with me.
"There were times when it was tough, wet and cold but I thought of our 1,490 Famine emigrants and how much tougher it must have been on them and it gave me strength. I thought of current-day emigrants and the difficulties of their journeys and focused on the fundraising.
"Our original target of €25,000 was surpassed in less than a week and for that I am most grateful.
"I am very happy to be here today to hand over a €41,300 cheque to four very worthy registered charities whose work I greatly admire. I am happy that the funds I have raised will be going deep to the roots – to those who need it most.”
December 11, 2024: Jim Callery, his wife Adeline and daughter Caroilin presenting cheques for €41,300 to four charities at an event in the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Co Roscommon.
Four charities each received €41,300 thanks to Callery's 90th birthday fundraiser.
The Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin was represented by Fr Kevin Kiernan. It feeds 1,000 people a day and runs nurse, doctor, dental, and other services for their guests. It also provides a weekly food parcel service and much more.
The New Horizons Refugee & Asylum Seeker Support Group in Athlone was represented by chair Gerry Callaghan (Chair) and secretary Chris Mc Dermott. The group provides support to those at the Athlone, Lissywollen, and Temple sites.
Safe Home Ireland, based in Co Mayo but working nationwide, was represented by secretary Ann Roddy and board member Johnny B. Broderick. Safe Home Ireland supports Irish Immigrants who find themselves stuck abroad in their latter years and would like to return to their homeland.
Schools of Sanctuary, a nationwide group, was represented by chair Veronica Crosbie and schools co-ordinator Sive O Conor. This educational project develops Champion of Sanctuary Schools through their programmes.
Three Schools of Sanctuary students - Anzal Hussein (Somalia), Aya Alhamoud (Syria), and Samira Vaezi (Afghanistan) - also attended with their teacher Martina Peyton from St Nathy’s College Ballaghadereen, the first Champion of Sanctuary School in the West of Ireland.
December 11, 2024: Jim Callery, his wife Adeline and daughter Caroilin and friends at the fundraising cheque presentation to four charities at an event in the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Co Roscommon.
Callery’s motivation in doing the walk was twofold; as a fundraiser and in remembrance of Strokestown's Missing 1,490 Famine emigrants who were the inspiration for the creation of the National Famine Way waymarked trail.
He arrived in Dublin on his 90th birthday - Wednesday, October 15 - to a triumphant welcome from his wife Adeline and two sisters (96 and 94-year-old Eileen O Connell and Nanette Callery) along with four generations of his family.
Callery was the person responsible for saving Strokestown Park House in 1979 and for setting up the National Famine Museum there. He was awarded a European Heritage Europa Nostra Award (EU Prizes for Cultural Heritage) in 1979 and the citation said “The restoration and establishment of the world renowned Irish National Famine Museum & Archive by Mr. Callery has been the largest act of private philanthropy for cultural heritage in the history of modern Ireland."
The National Famine Way™ traverses six counties and is a collaboration between Waterways Ireland, the Irish Heritage Trust and the county councils along the route. The local authorities involved are Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare, Fingal, and Dublin.
The symbol of the National Famine Way™ is a pair of children’s shoes displayed at the National Famine Museum. The trail is waymarked by bronze replicas as a poignant reminder of the journey the 1,490 evicted tenants made.
The National Famine Way™ is open to walkers at any time and the route and associated stories can be followed through a free app. Walkers can also purchase an official passport to get stamped along the route.