Boston Irish Famine Memorial

The Boston Irish Famine Memorial features two bronze statue groups that contrast starving Irish families during the famine with Irish families who became successful immigrants in America. The sculptures sit in a park along Washington Street between Old City Hall and the Old South Meeting House.

The memorial opened in 1998 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine that killed about a million people in Ireland. That disaster pushed tens of thousands of Irish people to flee to Boston, where they built a new community.

Eight narrative plaques surrounding the site tell the stories of Irish families who left for Boston and link those historical events to hunger crises happening around the world today. Visitors can read personal accounts of what drove people to emigrate.

The site sits at the intersection of the Freedom Trail and the Irish Heritage Trail, so you can easily connect it with other nearby historical stops. The space is open to the public and free to visit anytime.

A maintenance fund was set up when the site opened to ensure the bronze sculptures and park are cared for year-round. This long-term commitment shows how much the memorial matters to the city.