O'Brien 1848 Famine WarHouse

The Office of Public Works in Ireland for the O'Brien 1848 Famine WarHouse at Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, was officially opened on Wednesday, 21 July at 3 pm. This was the location of William Smith O'Brien's Rising in 1848.  The house known as the McCormack house has always been known locally as the Warhouse.  The official State name for the house is now 'Famine Warhouse 1848'.  The Office of Public Works extends a general invitation to all who wish to attend the official opening. The site was purchased for the State as part of the national heritage by the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, T.D., in 1998 during the 150th anniversary celebrations.  It has since been the subject of an extensive renovation by the Office of Public Works. The permamnent historical exhibition in the house by the historian Dr Thomas McGrath places the Rising and the history of the Young Irelanders in the context of the Great Famine and 1848 as Europe's year of Revolutions from France to Hungary.  O'Brien was the most trenchant critic of government Famine policy in the House of Commons and he regarded the Famine as justifying his rebellion. The trial and penal exile of O'Brien, Thomas Francis Meagher and the others in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) and the subsequent escapes of some of them to the United States of America where they became leaders of the Famine Irish in exile are all covered in a wide-ranging exhibition. The official opening was carried out by Mr Tom Parlon, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

More information about the O'Brien 1848 Famine Warhouse may be found in Ballingarry, Co Tipperary and their website at www.ballingarry.net  .