Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has welcomed the launch of the Famine Potatoes schools initiative, which is organised by the Tallaght based Committee for the Commemoration of Irish Famine Victims.

The Sinn Féin TD welcomed the group’s plan to distribute lumper potatoes to schools right across Ireland.

Speaking at the launch in Scoil Santain, Tamhlacht, Teachta Seán Crowe said:

“I want to wholeheartedly welcome and commend this schools initiative organized by the Committee for the Commemoration of Irish Victims of the Famine (CCIVF).

“The lumper potato was the primary food item for Irish families in the 1840s, but it was highly susceptible to blight. When potato blight struck Ireland this staple food source was devastated.

“An Gorta Mór resulted in the deaths of over one million Irish citizens from starvation and it led to the forced migration of over a million more Irish citizens. The CCIFV therefore plan to distribute lumper potatoes to schools right across Ireland as an aid to teachers and students studying the Great Hunger.

“We must do more to commemorate the victims of An Gorta Mór and to education our citizens on this horrific period of Irish history. I want to also again back the CCIVF’s call on the Government to set a fixed day in the year for the National Famine Memorial Day and their suggestion of the second Sunday in May.”

ENDS

L-R: Seán Crowe TD, Paul Murphy TD, Pól O Meadhra (teacher), Eamon O Deagha (School Principal), Michael Blanch (CCIFV) and students of Scoil Santain

Students of Scoil Santain

L-R: Seán Crowe TD, Eamon O Deagha (School Principal), Michael Blanch (CCIFV), Paul Murphy TD, and Pól O Meadhra (teacher).