There was a large attendance at the blessing and unveiling of a historic Celtic Cross as a Famine Memorial in the New Cemetery, Mountbellew, on Easter Sunday.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Franciscan Brothers Community, local Heritage groups, neighbours and friends.

This was the result of a cooperative project between the Mountbellew Heritage and Tourism Network and the Franciscan Brothers Mountbellew. The prime mover on the initiative was Br Alphonsus Gavigan.

The monument originally stood in the Franciscan Community Cemetery at Farragher, Co Roscommon. It was sculpted in limestone with the classic rope and knot design by Edmund Sharp of Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, most likely around 1906.

After the foundation at Farragher closed, the Cross was removed, and all remains in the Cemetery were exhumed to be reinterred at Mountbellew Monastery in May 2012.

The Cross was donated by the Franciscan Brothers to MHTN to be a Famine Memorial, given the special link between the Mountbellew Monastery and relief administered by the community to the locality in the 1840s.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Br Alphonsus recalled the selfless work of Br Jeremiah Ryan who organised a soup kitchen at Mountbellew Monastery where hundreds were fed daily.

In this, he had the assistance of his fellow Franciscans, some of whom quested for famine relief funds in the USA; there were generous donations also from the Bellew landlord family and the Society of Friends.

With cholera rampant, Jeremiah went about the area, tending to the sick and recovering bodies which he brought to nearby Aughiart graveyard for common burial.

In order to prevent spread of the disease in the Monastery, Br Jeremiah isolated himself in one of the farm outbuildings where he took his meals and slept.

Speaking on behalf of Mountbellew Heritage and Tourism Network, Gerry Rushe thanked Br Alphonsus for making the first approach and suggesting the Famine commemorative project.

MHTN President Jimmy Noone acknowledged the thoughtfulness of the Franciscan Brothers’ gesture.

He complimented all members of the Heritage Group for their dedication and fundraising efforts, with special mention for Annmarie Cunningham.

He thanked Fr Karl Burns, PP, for his continued support to the Heritage group and for giving of his time on this occasion.

Fr Karl, in turn, praised the contribution of the Franciscan Brothers and the community spirit that brought the work to fruition, appropriately, on Easter Day.

The Famine Memorial Cross was blessed by Fr Karl and unveiled jointly by Gerry Rushe and Br Alphonsus.

Among the attendance were Councillor Michael Connolly, MHTN Chairman Kieran Bracken, Secretary Richard McGrath, Treasurer Pauline Gavin, PRO Peter Harris and several Committee members.

The group is indebted to Joe Owens, Michael Cunniffe, Cormac Glynn, Stonemason Sean Keane and Cemetery Caretaker Michael Hughes.

Thanks were also extended to Galway County Heritage Officer Marie Mannion and the Council Office for their support.

Pictured: Some of the attendance at the unveiling of the Famine Memorial Cross at Mountbellew New Cemetery.