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The Doolough Famine Walk, County Mayo

Clare Balding travels to Ireland to retrace the steps of those who walked from Louisburg to Delphi in 1849 at the height of the potato famine in the hope of receiving aid.

Clare Balding travels to Ireland, County Mayo, to retrace the steps of those who walked from Louisburg to Delphi, in 1849 at the height of the potato famine, in the hope of receiving aid. Now known as The Doolough Tragedy Famine Walk, hundreds of people come from all over the world to walk the twelve miles each year in memory of those who died of starvation along the route. Clare talks to Joe Murray from Afri (Action from Ireland) on whose behalf he organises the annual pilgrimage, which not only remembers those who died of hunger but also those, across the world, who now live in hunger and struggle with a shortage of food.
They're joined by Mary O'Malley whose forebears suffered during the Great Hunger, or An Gorta Mor, and by Prof John Maguire who puts the famine into historical context.
The music used in the programme, Turned Away, was an original piece written for the walk by Imogen Gunner.
Producer: Lucy Lunt.

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23 minutes

Last on

Sat 18 Feb 2017 06:07

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Clare Balding
Interviewed Guest Joe Murray
Interviewed Guest Mary O'Malley
Interviewed Guest John Maguire
Producer Lucy Lunt

Broadcasts

  • Thu 16 Feb 2017 15:00
  • Sat 18 Feb 2017 06:07

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