Irish Famine orphan girls - stepping from the shadows of history

At the height of An Gorta Mór (the Great Hunger) of 1845-1852, a scheme was devised by the then British Secretary to the Colonies, Earl Grey, to send Irish orphan girls to Australia. 

The aims: provide domestic servants for European settlers, potential wives for convicts to help populate the new colony, and to lessen numbers in Irish workhouses.

Over 1848-1850, the scheme brought 4114 orphan girls, aged 14-19, to the Australian ports of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. 

Here, they were often met with derision, especially in the press, where every aspect, from their appearance to their aptitude and even their morals, was unjustly criticised.

There were indeed some sad stories among the girls sent here. However, the majority of orphan girls prevailed; most would marry, raise large healthy families and prosper in Australia.

Today, it is said that approximately 2 million Australians are descended from an Irish Famine orphan girl.

But, considering the exceptionality of this story and its unique place in Irish-Australian history, surprising numbers of people still don't know about the story - both in Australia and Ireland.

"When we've got these platforms, I think it's important for us to use them and undo this" - Ryan Kelly 

Recently, Irish singer-songwriter Ryan Kelly (Byrne and Kelly, Celtic Thunder), was interviewed by the Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration Melbourne.

The singer, from Co Tyrone, was invited to speak about his inspiring Famine-emigration song, "Land of a Thousand Dreams."

But, on hearing of the orphan girls' story, he wanted to learn more! 

"The whole story of the Great Famine and that emigration story is not told enough. It's not taught in our schools. And it's something that we should know more about growing, because it's a massive, massive part of our history," Kelly said.

For the song, he and bandmate Neil Byrne filmed at the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare.

"Learning about the Famine and this tragic, tragic time in Ireland, when we lost millions to starvation and emigration, people just had to leave because there was no food, there was no life here and they had to go. 

"[And] I thought about the people watching from the cliff tops as their family members boarded these ships. And they were gone. 

"But as the song goes on, it's more echoing the pride that we have in these peope and in our forefathers who made these journeys," he said.

And the 2016 song still resonates with people, who tell the singer that they are inspired to learn more. 

"That's the beauty of music, as a connection it can make with people across the world," said Ryan Kelly.

And he isn't the only Irish singer who has now been inspired by this story. 

"It was a part of history that I was never very well educated on and I feel, as a nation and the younger generation, we should know and be taught more about our history" - Nicola O'Haire

In 2021, Nicola O'Haire recorded the hauntingly beautiful "Orphan Girl" ballad by renowned composer Brendan Graham.

"When I first heard the song, it really stuck with me. It really moved me. And it felt like a mini history lesson," said O'Haire.

The Westport, Co Mayo native wanted to know more.

"I decided to visit the Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna [Co Galway] because I wanted to gain a greater insight into the lives and story of the Irish orphan girls.

"And I really believe the experience impacted me massively, and helped me to get into the mindset I needed to in order to help me truly connect to the lyrics and story of this song.

"And to help shed some light on this very important part of our history, especially doing so through music and song," said Nicola O'Haire.

What can we do?

So much of our rich history lives in our music and song; emotive to generations at home, and a cultural lifeline to the global Irish disapora. The orphan girls have a rightful place in that world.

"I've always said, as a songwriter and a lover of music, storytelling is the key," said Ryan Kelly.

The story of these brave teens, who journeyed from hunger to hope so long ago, is indeed a story well worth the telling! 

2024 Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration in Melbourne, Australia

The 2024 Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration will be held on Sunday, November 24, from 2pm, at the Famine Rock standing stone memorial in Burgoyne Reserve, Williamstown, Melbourne. 

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