Welcome to the Boyne Valley Trails September Festival; immerse yourself in our guided walks, hikes and trails and discover the beauty, history and nature of the stunning Boyne Valley region.
Drogheda & the great Famine 1845-1850: A Presentation Walk n Talk by Community Historian Brendan Matthews.
Starting at the South Quay entrance to Scotch Hall at 11am Brendan will tell the horrific tale of how the town of Drogheda was to witness some terrible, pitiful and dreadful scenes of people, men women and children, famished by the hunger and riddled with disease after they had arrived in town from the mid-west and west of the country in the vain hope of catching a boat to Liverpool and/or the `new world` to escape the calamity.
People had walked from places such as Longford, Sligo, Roscommon and Mayo, often taking three to four weeks for their journey. Brendan will elaborate the heartbreaking stories of some of these people after their arrival in Drogheda during the `Great Hunger` yet tons upon tons of food was leaving the Port of Drogheda every week.
Things to note: Taking around 1½ hours to complete the Walk n Talk will be presented in a laid-back atmosphere and is easy under-foot. The walk will finish around 12.30pm in the Port area of Drogheda. Photos and video footage may be captured during this walking tour/event.
We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and light layers.
