Taximan's dream for Famine day begins to take shape

A TAXI driver who dreamt of honouring the forgotten victims of the Famine has been appointed to a committee to establish a national memorial day.

Michael Blanch will join academics, politicians, famine activists, and a former ambassador to plan an annual day to commemorate the most devastating event in Ireland's history.

Over a million people died and another million emigrated when the potato blight struck the crop that was the population's main foodstuff between 1845 and 1849.

The ravages of the Great Hunger also led to mass emigration to Britain and North America for decades afterwards.

Mr Blanch felt the victims of what was one of the worst human disasters of the 19th century had been largely forgotten.

It was a fitting honour yesterday when he was formally appointed to the new National Famine Memorial Committee by a relative of a former Taoiseach.

Eamon de Valera's grandson and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O Cuiv, paid tribute to the man who "worked hard over the years to promote this concept".

He admitted he did not expect something on the scale of the 90th commemoration of the 1916 Rising. However, Mr OCuiv said he wanted people to do "something small" on the special day through committees all over the country.

History

"This is a different type of event to 1916 and was the greatest disaster in our history," said Mr OCuiv.

"If the Famine didn't happen, there could be 12 million people living in Ireland and eight million could be native Irish speakers."

The appointment of the committee was the culmination of a journey that had very humble beginnings.

Michael Blanch (57) and his wife Betty were the only people at the first commemoration in Dublin in 2003..

His idea has since grown with yearly processions from Dublin's Garden of Remembrance to the famine sculptures near the Liffey.

Mr Blanch successfully persuaded the Government to come on board and in May this year the first official reception was held at the Custom House.

"Today is a great day," said Mr Blanch.

"The victims of the Famine and generations of Irish emigrants will finally be given the respect they deserve."