Irish Famine Orphans commemorated in Sydney

Julie Evans who lives in Sydney is a direct descendant of Bridget Ryan's. 

Bridget was taken to Australia from Listowel workhouse as part of the Irish "orphans" scheme  in 1850.

Julie attended this year's annual commemorative get together of the descendants of these girls and she sent us these photos. 

In the above photo Julie is standing beside a glass panel on which all the girls' names are etched.

The following  text is from the orphan girls website.

" Since the unveiling of the Famine Orphan Girl Monument on 28 August 1999 the Great Irish Famine Commemoration Committee (GIFCC) in association with the Historic Houses Trust (HHT) and the Irish Government has held a get together at the Monument.

The first was held in 2001. Distinguished guest speakers deliver an address, representatives of the Irish government attend, a wreath in green and purple is laid at the monument by orphan girl descendants, and an Irish air is played by guest musicians and singers. Afterwards we gather in the Barracks yard for refreshments and acquaintances are renewed among the 200-300 people who attend each year. This makes the monument a ‘living’ monument and the work of this has mainly been due to Tom Power and his small group of unsung volunteers."

This year the guest speaker was Brendan Graham. He wrote a new song especially for the occasion. His speech on the day is not up on the web yet but an account of the day can be read here:  http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=1&subclassID=2&articleID=10637&class=Latest%20News&subclass=CW%20National

 

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From the website: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/PressReleases/2012/August2012PressReleases/htmltext,16623,en.html 2013 Commemoration

30/08/12 - MINISTER DEENIHAN ANNOUNCES THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL COMMEMORATION OF THE GREAT IRISH FAMINE IS TO TAKE PLACE IN SYDNEY

Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, has announced that the 2013 International Commemoration of the Great Irish Famine will take place in Sydney on Sunday, 25th August 2013. Minister Deenihan commented: 'As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I look forward to working with the community in Sydney and, in particular, with Sydney's Great Irish Famine Commemoration Committee to ensure that those who perished, suffered and emigrated during this tragic time in our nation's history are honoured in a very special way.

We remember especially all of those who left Ireland during the Great Famine for Australia; particularly the 4,412 young Irish women and girls who travelled from the workhouses of Ireland between 1848 and 1850 under the Earl Grey Scheme in search of hope and a new beginning. We honour their great achievements and their extraordinary contribution to their adopted homeland and we recognise the bond that will always exist between the Irish people and the people of Sydney.' There have been four international commemorations of the Great Irish Famine to date. These overseas events coincide with the annual National Famine Commemoration, which rotates around the four provinces of Ireland. Previous overseas events have taken place in Canada (2009), New York (2010), Liverpool (2011) and Boston (2012).

The date and location of the 2013 National Famine Commemoration, which will take place in the province of Munster, and will be announced later this year.

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For the TV programme, The Gathering, Homeward Bound, Tadhg Kennelly spoke to Barbara, who is a cousin of Julie's and also a descendant of Bridget Ryan's.  She told him about her family's pride in their Irish ancestor who endured so much hardship but survived and thrived.

They filmed the scenes at the Famine memorial. The programme is due to go out on RTE1 on October 23.

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Kay Caball is doing a project on the Listowel orphan girls and she is wondering if anyone reading this knows anything about any of these girls. You can email me any information and I will pass it on to Kay.

These are the names of the girls who were selected to be sent to Australia in 1850.

Names of girls proposed to sail on the Thomas Arbuthnot – Arrived Sydney 3.2.1850

Mary Brandon Newtownsandes	Johanna Hayes Kiltomey	Mary Purcell Listowel	Ellen Wilson Listowel
Ellen Casey Ratoo	Hanna Jones Listowel	Margaret Stack Kiltomey	Mary Wilson Listowel
Mary Casey Duagh	Eliza Moriarty O’Dorney	Catherine Ryan Listowel	Ellen Leary Ardfert
Margaret Connor Listowel	Johanna Connor Ballylongford	Mary Ryan Listowel	Biddy Ryan Listowel
Mary Conway Dromkeen E.D.	Winnie Pierce Ratoo	Margaret Scanlon Listowel

Source:  Minutes of Board of  Guardians 11 September 1849

These girls did not travel according to arrival records of Thos Arbuthnot 3 Feb 1850

Names of Girls proposed to sail on the Tippoo Saib – Arrived Sydney 29.7.1850

Mary Courtney	Catherine O’Sullivan	Anne Buckley	Julia Daily
Ellen Leary	Bridget  Griffin	Mary Griffin	Margaret Ginniew
Mary Daly	Johanna Scanlon	Deborah Kissane	Catherine Mullowney
Mary Sullivan	Mary Stack	Honora Brien	Mary Creagh
Catherine Connor	Johanna Sullivan	Margaret Connor	Ellen Relihan

Source: Minutes of Listowel Board of Guardians 7^th March 1850

Mary Griffin not on arrivals of Tippoo Saib  29 July 185

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Following the death of Larry Cunningham, The Irish Independent published this photo:

Takes me back!!!