Near fm's first live outside broadcast from the spectacular Jeanie Johnston

From Tuesday 13th December from 3.30 to 5.00pm. The programme features a diverse blend of the people who live and work around the area, Irish music and the Jeanie Johnston itself. Noel McGuinness, Gerry Cooley and Fergus Carroll talk to Micheal O Cionna the manager of the Jeanie Johnston, Paul McCarthy tour guide on the Jeanie Johnston, Marie O'Reilly the chair of East Wall Youth and Secretary of East wall 4 all, the Minister Jimmi Deenihan, TD Minister for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht Affairs, Michael Blanch from CCIFV (Committee of the Commemoration of Irish Famine Victims), Victor Finn the CEO of IMRO and Pete St. John one of near fm's long standing volunteer. The Irish Folk & Ballad Group the BeerMats added to the flair of the outside broadcast by playing live in the background in the museum part of the ship.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan T.D. officially launched the first broadcast and gave an interview about the arts and heritage in general as well as about his own book which was launched later the same day. Listen by clicking the play button below.

Irish Famine Victims and Emigrants "Memorial Day"

AN GORTA MOR

9th ANNUAL COMMEMORATION

UNITED IN THE LIGHT OF PEACE

COMMEMORATION WALK

Assemble at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square to Famine Sculptures, Custom House Quay

Date: 13th MAY 2012 at 2.00 PM

Traditionally The Lord Mayor of Dublin lays a Wreath, with one minute's silence

Email: oliviablanch6 at gmail dot com

Phone: 01 452 6548 or Mobile 087 90 40 888

The Famine (1845-51)

The Famine was the single biggest social catastrophy of the nineteenth centry. As a result of it, 1.5 million Irish men, women, and children emigrated and a staggering 1 million died - this out of a population of some 8 million people. In the years following the Famine, emigration continued unabated until the island's population was roughly half of what it had been in the pre-Famine period.

Given the extraordinary role that the Famine has played in Irish history, it is suprising that there has been very little public memorialization of the disaster and until recently, Irish commemoration was limited to the Strokestown Famine Museam which was created by a group of private individuals.