Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum

Ireland's Great Hunger Museum is located at Quinnipiac University and displays artworks and objects that document the Irish Famine through visual materials and personal items. The collection combines works by well-known Irish artists with 19th-century documents and shows how this period continues to live in memory and artistic engagement.

The institution was founded in 2012 to preserve artworks and documents about the famine between 1845 and 1852. It was created to honor this turning point in Irish history and its lasting impact on art and culture.

The museum's approach draws heavily on Irish artistic responses to the famine, with works that explore how the crisis shaped cultural memory and identity across generations. You'll see paintings and sculptures that carry the weight of this history, created by artists who viewed the event as central to understanding Irish life and resilience.

The location is situated on a university campus and is generally accessible during the academic season, though hours may vary. It's wise to check in advance since times can differ based on the semester schedule and special events.

The collection includes an original cooking pot from the 19th century that was actually used to prepare meals during the famine. This humble object tells a quiet but powerful story of daily survival during the crisis.