Irish Hunger Memorial: Ireland in New York
The Irish Hunger Memorial is a striking place to visit in New York. This monument honors the Great Famine that devastated Ireland in the mid-19th century.
What to Know About the Irish Hunger Memorial
- The Irish Hunger Memorial honors the Great Famine that struck Ireland from 1845 to 1848, killing between 500,000 and one million people. The memorial opened in 2002 in the Financial District, at the foot of the World Financial Center and steps away from One World Trade Center.
- Artist Brian Tolle designed the memorial in an unusual way. Rather than a traditional monument or statues, you walk a path through a rural Irish landscape with an abandoned cottage. This ghostly building is constructed from stones gathered from each of Ireland’s 32 counties. At the entrance, read the historical texts separated by limestone plaques imported from Kilkenny.
- The memorial holds deep meaning for New Yorkers because the Irish Famine forced countless Irish to flee poverty and emigrate to the New World, especially to New York. The site itself is striking: the contrast between the green countryside and the surrounding skyscrapers is immediate and powerful. The connection to Ireland feels very real.
Practical Information: Irish Hunger Memorial
- Getting there: Follow North End Avenue along the Hudson River to reach the memorial. You’ll find it just north of North Cove Marina. Consider visiting after One World Observatory—the memorial is almost directly across from the tower’s main entrance. You can then continue to the World Trade Center marina.
- Hours: The memorial is open daily from 8 am to 9 pm, May 1 to October 31, and from 8 am to 6:45 pm, November to April. Admission is free.
- How long does it take to visit the Irish Hunger Memorial? You can walk through in just a few minutes, but it’s well worth the stop.
Irish Hunger Memorial in Photos
