I am helping my high school senior formulate a 2 week back packing trip through Ireland that is intended to focus on Great Famine historical sites. I have a list - but it it too long for a two week visit. The Dublin sites are a given because we have family there. Here is the list.

• Irish Famine Exhibition, History Museum of Dublin
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship (Dublin)
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Bunrayty Castle and Folk Park
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• Strokestown Park and The Irish National Famine Museum
• Workhouse Dunfanaghy & the Irish Workhouse Centre Portumna

One concern I have is that some of these locations don't look very easy to get to for someone who will be travelling without a car.

Any input??

County Mayo has so many places. The Famine coffin ship at the foot of Crough Patrick is a bronze ship built of skeletal figures. Murrisk Abbey. There is a deserted village on Achill Island. Doolough Valley Famine memorial. We took a tour with Westport Tax company and saw that. You can get to Crough Patrick by bus from Westport.

You could well strike Bunratty from your list - has naught to do with the Famine.

"best"
Akin to "best" concentration camps, or "best" lynching sites.

Phrasing is everything

Yes bilbo, it is very horrid. That ship was a stark reminder. The Fields of Athenry is always the saddest song to me. There is a show on Netflix about Irish castles and the Leslie's were not burnt out because they were somewhat kind during the famine by providing work and food building what is now called the famine wall around their home. Starvation is still a huge problem in this modern day world.

I agreethe famine was horrible.

I would be interested to see the response on the America part of the forum if I asked for "Best Lynching SItes" for my school's tour of the south?

Strokestown Park Famine Museum
The Workhouse Dunfanaghy & the Irish Workhouse Centre Portumna
Coffin Ships; Jeanie Johnston & Dunbrody
Skibbereen Heritage Centre
Cobh Heritage Centre
Bunratty Folk Park
The National Museum of Country Life
There are many more but the above mentioned are famous ones.

Thanks!

I really don't see the point of your question, Bilbo. Some cities in the American south are beginning to put up monuments to the victims of lynching. I would encourage anyone visiting that part of the country to visit one.
https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/memorial

I read recently that English Heritage was planning to build a visitor's interpretive center, against much opposition, at the tower where many Jewish people were trapped by an angry mob in the 13th century. Most of them committed suicide rather than surrender to the mob. If it ever gets built, I would visit it.

I really don't see the point of your question, Bilbo. Some cities in the American south are beginning to put up monuments to the victims of lynching. I would encourage anyone visiting that part of the country to visit one.
https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/memorial

I read recently that English Heritage was planning to build a visitor's interpretive center, against much opposition, at the tower where many Jewish people were trapped by an angry mob in the 13th century. Most of them committed suicide rather than surrender to the mob. If it ever gets built, I would visit it.

My friend wrote a book on lynchings. He is a Professor at a University and head of the history department. It was a horrible period in the USA and the hatred we see today with just the noose hanging is mind-boggling.

I just saw a documentary on The Leslie family and how she fed the famine victims and gave them work which was called the famine wall around the Leslie manor. When the big manors were being burned they left the Leslie manor because of this fact. Sir Paul was married to Heather there. The landowners could have done much more and she proved that.

About buses and trains and passes - https://www.dochara.com/tour/save/ir...s-saver-cards/ check them out - there are a few main train lines but buses go many more places - for more on Irish trains and buses check www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

When I was driving around Dingle Peninsula they said it was depopulated during the Potato Famine and many emigrated to America. Twas a long time ago so not sure it is a famine site but if so go for it - lovely isolated youth hostel right at remote end of peninsula. Bus service from Dingle Town and Tralee (railhead).