GREAT FAMINE MEMORIAL IN MULLINGAR
GREAT FAMINE MEMORIAL [THE SQUARE IN MULLINGAR]
The Great Famine Memorial, Mullingar
Located on The Square at the eastern end of Dominick Street, Mullingar's primary memorial to the Great Famine is a poignant sculpture by Gerard Leslie, erected in 1997. The monument features a large granite slab adorned with a bronze plaque and three sets of emerging bronze hands. A bronze mill wheel, a reference to the town's name (An Muileann gCearr, meaning 'the left-handed mill'), rests at its base.
The Original Concept: A Water Feature
While it now stands as a dry monument, an astute observer might notice the cupped hands and suspect its original purpose. The Famine Memorial was indeed designed and initially functioned as a dynamic water feature.
In its original state, water flowed from an outlet above the top pair of hands, cascading down through the cupped palms before collecting in the basin formed by the millstone below. This flow of water was central to the memorial's powerful symbolism.
Symbolism and Meaning
The inclusion of water was not merely aesthetic; it was integral to conveying the memorial's message:
Tears and Sorrow: The constant stream of water represented the endless tears shed for the millions who suffered and perished during the Great Famine.
Life and Cleansing: In contrast, water also symbolises life and cleansing, offering a sense of hope and remembrance in the face of immense tragedy.
A Lost Harvest: Most poignantly, the water flowing over the hands and into the millstone—a symbol of food production—starkly signified the failure of the harvest and the devastating loss of sustenance that defined the era.
Current Status
Unfortunately, in common with many public water installations, the pump system that circulated the water eventually fell into disrepair. For some years now, the water element has not been operational, primarily due to the significant maintenance costs and complexities involved in its repair.
Though now a static sculpture, the memorial remains a powerful and moving tribute, its original, fluid design adding a deeper layer to its historical significance.
The Great Famine Memorial, Mullingar
Located on The Square at the eastern end of Dominick Street, Mullingar's primary memorial to the Great Famine is a poignant sculpture by Gerard Leslie, erected in 1997. The monument features a large granite slab adorned with a bronze plaque and three sets of emerging bronze hands. A bronze mill wheel, a reference to the town's name (An Muileann gCearr, meaning 'the left-handed mill'), rests at its base.
The Original Concept: A Water Feature
While it now stands as a dry monument, an astute observer might notice the cupped hands and suspect its original purpose. The Famine Memorial was indeed designed and initially functioned as a dynamic water feature.
In its original state, water flowed from an outlet above the top pair of hands, cascading down through the cupped palms before collecting in the basin formed by the millstone below. This flow of water was central to the memorial's powerful symbolism.
Symbolism and Meaning
The inclusion of water was not merely aesthetic; it was integral to conveying the memorial's message:
Tears and Sorrow: The constant stream of water represented the endless tears shed for the millions who suffered and perished during the Great Famine.
Life and Cleansing: In contrast, water also symbolises life and cleansing, offering a sense of hope and remembrance in the face of immense tragedy.
A Lost Harvest: Most poignantly, the water flowing over the hands and into the millstone—a symbol of food production—starkly signified the failure of the harvest and the devastating loss of sustenance that defined the era.
Current Status
Unfortunately, in common with many public water installations, the pump system that circulated the water eventually fell into disrepair. For some years now, the water element has not been operational, primarily due to the significant maintenance costs and complexities involved in its repair.
Though now a static sculpture, the memorial remains a powerful and moving tribute, its original, fluid design adding a deeper layer to its historical significance.
MULLINGAR FAMINE MEMORIAL