The Great Irish Famine Commemoration takes place every year in Ireland and around the world. The National Famine Memorial Day is an annual observance in Ireland held on the second Sunday in May. It is also an international event, with the worldwide diaspora community organizing events in their communities to remember the victims of the Great Hunger.

Here are some of the events happening this month around the world:

In the U.S.

May 15

Great Hunger Commemoration Mass, Glasonbury, CT

Details: The Irish American Home Society invites its members and others of Irish descent to mark this Irish Hunger Commemoration with a Commemorative Mass, which will be celebrated on Sunday, May 15, 2016, 9:00 a.m. in the upstairs hall. Those attending are asked to bring a donation of food, to be given to the Malta House Food Pantry in Hartford.

Location & Contact: The Irish American Home Society, 132 Commerce Street, Glastonbury, CT, 06033. Phone: 860-663-9691. Click here for website. 

May 22

Annual Commemoration of the Great Irish Hunger, Staten Island, NY

Details: Annual Commemoration of the Great Irish Hunger, unveiling of the Irish Hunger Marker and Walking Tour
Sponsored by Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries, Inc. Staten Island (FACSI).

At 12:15 meet Bill Fahey for the 12:30 ferry to Staten Island, he will lead a tour from Whitehall Street Ferry Terminal over to the Staten Island burial ground OR meet directly at the site 1 pm. 

FACSI obtained the appropriate approvals to install cemetery signage and Irish Hunger Marker on the grounds. It is the first time this site will be officially designated as a cemetery.

Location & Contact: St. George Court House Marine Hospital Quarantine Cemetery (1799-1858) 26 Central Avenue (6 min. walk from Staten Island Ferry Terminal) Staten Island, NY 10301. View the Facebook event here. 

Ireland

May 8

Dublin 

2:00pm

Garden of Remembrance Pilgrimage to Hunger Sculptures on the Quays. 

Commemoration wreath laying by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Criona Ni Dhalaigigh. Celebration of Life ceol agus craic on the Jeanie Johnston (replica coffin ship) with Pete St John. 

Committee for Commemoration of the Irish Famine Victims (CCIFV) 

All are welcome.

Athenry Hunger Commemoration

Ballyboy Co Offaly Hunger Commemoration

May 21

Doolough Famine Walk Commemoration

June 14 - 19

2016 Irish Famine Summer School, Strokestown, Roscommon

Northern Ireland

May 15

Newry Commemoration 

(at the Marker beside the Workhouse)

England 

London

London Memorial to the Irish Famine

12:00pm, Noon

Trades Union Congress (TUC)

Congress House, Great Russell Street

WC1B 3LS

London, United Kingdom

The event is hosted by the South East Regional TUC Race Relations Committee who regularly publicize the history of migrant workers to Britain.

Canada 

May 29

Montreal

For more information and updates on events go to the Facebook group Remembering An Gorta Mor.