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The Global Irish Famine Way uses a simple but powerful symbol – a pair of bronze children's shoes – to connect Ireland with communities shaped by Famine-era emigration. For travelers interested in Irish history, ancestry, and the diaspora, it offers a new way to understand where those journeys began, where they led, and the communities that remember them today.

A tiny pair of children's shoes found tucked into the rafters of a 19th-century cottage in County Roscommon probably wasn't meant to tell a story that stretched around the world.

But that is exactly what has happened.

Cast in bronze, those shoes first became markers along the National Famine Way, the route taken by 1,490 people who left Strokestown in 1847 and walked to Dublin before continuing toward Liverpool and Quebec.

Now those same shoes are appearing thousands of miles from Ireland, connecting the places emigrants left behind with the communities where they arrived.

This article is based on podcast episode 354 featuring Caroilín Callery, Founder of the National Famine Way, along with Edel McWeeney Moran, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager with the National Famine Way.
Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links.

The story begins at Strokestown Park in County Roscommon, home to the National Famine Museum and an extraordinary archive documenting the Great Famine at a very personal level.

Strokestown Park is managed and cared for by the Irish Heritage Trust, preserving not only the estate but the records that allow individual Famine stories to be told.

Among those records are the names of 1,490 people who left the Strokestown estate through an assisted emigration scheme in 1847.

Their journey across Ireland is now commemorated by the National Famine Way, a roughly 165-kilometer route from Strokestown to Dublin via Clondra and the Royal Canal.

But Dublin wasn't their destination.

It was only the beginning.

More than 30 pairs of bronze shoes mark the National Famine Way in Ireland.

The original shoes were found tightly wrapped in linen and hidden beneath the rafters of an old cottage on the Strokestown estate, perhaps placed there for protection or good luck.

Their small size makes them an especially poignant symbol.

They aren't simply a memorial to “emigration.” They remind us that the people leaving Ireland were individuals – including children – walking away from homes and communities without knowing what waited for them.

The Global Irish Famine Way takes that symbol to the places where Irish emigrants continued their journeys.

The idea began taking shape internationally in 2023, when Ireland's then-ambassador to Canada, Eamonn McKee, contacted National Famine Way founder Caroilín Callery.

One pair of bronze shoes in Canada was the initial idea.

That didn't last long.

Communities with their own Famine-era connections wanted to participate, and by May 2024, 15 Canadian locations had requested bronze shoes.

The response demonstrated how deeply this history still resonates within the Irish diaspora. When shoes arrived in St. John's, Newfoundland, people queued to touch them – including descendants of Irish emigrants who had never visited Ireland themselves.

That emotional connection is really the heart of the Global Irish Famine Way.

It's not simply extending an Irish heritage trail overseas. It's reconnecting two halves of the same story.

The project is now expanding into the United States, where countless communities were shaped by Famine-era Irish immigration.

Staten Island is among the first American locations, with interest also coming from communities around Boston and elsewhere.

But receiving a pair of bronze shoes isn't simply a matter of asking for one.

Locations must document a genuine connection to Famine-era emigration. Historical evidence is reviewed by experts, and that process is already bringing overlooked stories back into local memory.

It's also generating new research.

In Canada, research connected with the project has identified first responders who died while caring for sick Irish emigrants and brought renewed attention to Famine-era burial sites. As more communities investigate their own connections, the trail becomes more than a collection of memorials. It becomes a growing historical record.

The next stage may be even more fascinating for travelers with Irish ancestry.

Famine emigrants departed from more than 30 ports around Ireland, including Dublin, Sligo, Moville, Youghal, and Dingle.

The Global Irish Famine Way hopes to connect those departure points with arrival ports around the world – and, when records allow, identify the ships and families that traveled between them.

Canada and the United States are only part of that story. Irish emigrants also built new lives in Australia, Argentina, South Africa, and elsewhere.

Bronze shoes will provide the physical connection between places, while QR codes link locations digitally through the Global Irish Famine Way.

For descendants of Irish emigrants, that creates an intriguing possibility: connecting family stories with the ports and communities that formed part of the wider Famine emigration story.

Travelers don't need to walk the entire National Famine Way to understand the history behind the global project.

Start at Strokestown Park and the National Famine Museum, where the archive and original children's shoes provide context for everything that follows.

From there, walk or cycle a portion of the route toward Clondra and the Royal Canal. Even a short section gives a sense of the distance families traveled before they ever reached a ship.

For travelers with more time, sections can be combined with cycling, kayaking, community visits, and stops in the small towns along the route.

The National Famine Way can be experienced at any time, but May 2027 offers a unique opportunity. The 180th anniversary of Black '47 will bring special commemorations to Strokestown Park and communities along the route, including the annual Remembrance Walk.

The National Famine Way website is the best resource for exploring the route in Ireland, discovering Global Irish Famine Way locations around the world, and finding information about upcoming events.

Website: National Famine Way & Global Irish Famine Way

Follow on Facebook & Instagram for updates.

2027 Dates to Know

May 13-16: International Conference at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park

May 15: Canadian Wake at Strokestown Park

May 16-23: National Famine Way Remembrance Walk from Strokestown to Dublin

Walkers can also receive a National Famine Way passport pack with a ship ticket bearing the name of one of the families who left Strokestown in 1847. Those following the route carry that family story with them, with the opportunity to discover their fate at the end of the journey in Dublin.

Travelers don't have to commit to the full Remembrance Walk. Joining for a day or even a section of the route offers a meaningful way to be part of the 180th anniversary commemorations while still leaving plenty of time for the rest of an Ireland vacation.

The Ireland Travel Compass brings together hundreds of places across the country and helps you turn ideas like these into a trip that fits your time and travel style.

The Great Famine scattered Irish families across the world. For generations, the story has often been told in two pieces: the people who left Ireland and the communities they created elsewhere.

The Global Irish Famine Way is bringing those pieces back together.

And it all begins with a small pair of shoes.

The National Famine Way is a 165 km heritage trail in Ireland following the route taken by 1,490 people who left Strokestown in 1847. It begins at Strokestown Park in County Roscommon and continues to Dublin.

The Global Irish Famine Way carries that story beyond Ireland, connecting places associated with Famine-era emigration through bronze shoe memorials and local history.

The National Famine Way begins at Strokestown Park in County Roscommon and ends in Dublin. The route travels from Strokestown to Clondra in County Longford before following the Royal Canal toward Dublin.

No. Travelers can experience individual sections of the National Famine Way without completing the full route. Walking and cycling are both options, and kayaking and other activities can also be incorporated into portions of the journey.

This makes it quite easy to include part of the National Famine Way in a typical Ireland itinerary.

The original children's shoes that inspired the symbol can be seen at Strokestown Park. More than 30 pairs of bronze shoes mark the National Famine Way between Strokestown and Dublin.

Bronze shoes are also being installed at approved Global Irish Famine Way locations outside Ireland, connecting communities with documented ties to Famine-era Irish emigration.

Yes. The 2027 National Famine Way Remembrance Walk takes place May 16-23, traveling from Strokestown to Dublin as part of the commemorations marking the 180th anniversary of Black '47.

Travelers don't have to complete the entire eight-day route. You can join the walk for individual days or sections, making it possible to participate while still enjoying the rest of your Ireland vacation.

The post The Global Irish Famine Way: Connecting Ireland’s Emigration Story Across the World appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Ireland's most memorable experiences aren't always found on the busiest routes. In County Cavan, travelers trade crowded attractions for quiet waterways, forest walks, and the simple pleasure of having time to enjoy where they are.

For visitors who prefer exploring at their own pace, Cavan offers a different side of Ireland. It's a place where lakes outnumber traffic lights, where history rises from the water, and where adventure feels less like an adrenaline rush and more like a chance to reconnect with nature.

This article is based on podcast episode 343 featuring Sean Thornton, owner of the Cavan Adventure Centre, whose passion for the land, waterways, and outdoor experiences shines through in everything he does.
Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links.

Many travelers arrive in Ireland with plans built around the Wild Atlantic Way, Dublin, Galway, or the Ring of Kerry. County Cavan rarely makes those first-draft itineraries.

That may be exactly why it deserves a closer look.

Known as Ireland's Lakeland County, Cavan boasts hundreds of lakes scattered among rolling drumlins, woodlands, and quiet country roads. Rather than rushing from attraction to attraction, visitors are encouraged to settle in, explore, and let the landscape set the pace.

Located near the border with Northern Ireland, Cavan also makes an excellent base for exploring neighboring counties. Visitors can easily combine lakes, forests, caves, and charming market towns without spending hours behind the wheel.

The appeal isn't necessarily about checking famous landmarks off a list. It's about experiencing a landscape that invites travelers to slow down and simply be present.

Articles like this highlight a few great options — but they’re just a small part of what Ireland offers.

The Ireland Travel Compass brings together hundreds of places across the country and helps you understand how to combine them into a trip that feels balanced and easy to navigate.

One of Cavan's most photographed landmarks is Clough Oughter Castle, dramatically positioned on a small island in the middle of Lough Oughter.

At first glance, the castle almost appears unreal – a stone tower seemingly floating above the water. Yet its story stretches back centuries.

Built by the Normans in the 13th century and later occupied by the powerful O'Reilly clan, the castle occupies a site that was important long before the medieval period. The surrounding waterways served as transportation routes, trade corridors, and protected settlements for generations.

Nearby crannógs, ancient man-made islands dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages, offer reminders that these lakes were once central to everyday life.

What makes Clough Oughter Castle especially memorable isn't simply the structure itself.

It's the journey.

Unlike many historic sites where visitors park nearby, snap a photo, and move on, Clough Oughter is best experienced from the water. Approaching by kayak, canoe, or boat naturally slows the pace.

The sounds change.

The views widen.

The castle gradually emerges from the landscape.

Visitors often find that the journey becomes just as memorable as the destination.

Sean Thornton founded Cavan Adventure Centre to help visitors experience the county's waterways and woodlands in a meaningful way. What began as an extension of his connection to the land as an organic farmer has grown into a center focused on outdoor recreation, wellness, and environmental appreciation.

The centre's signature experience is the paddle route to Clough Oughter Castle.

Located about 45 minutes from the castle by kayak, the launch point provides easy access to the lake system. Visitors receive instruction, route guidance, and maps before heading out.

Even first-time paddlers are welcome.

In fact, many guests have never kayaked before arriving.

The goal isn't speed or competition. It's giving people the confidence to explore at their own pace and enjoy the surroundings.

While kayaking is a highlight, visitors can choose from a variety of outdoor experiences.

Activities include:

The common thread is connection—to nature, to the landscape, and often to a slower pace of life.

One of the most interesting aspects of the wellness programs at Cavan Adventure Centre is a simple request.

Leave the phone behind.

For many visitors, that proves harder than kayaking.

Yet once people spend time walking through the woodlands or sitting quietly beside the water, the urge to check notifications often fades.

Sean notes that after a short time outdoors, guests begin relaxing into the experience. Conversations slow down. Attention shifts from screens to birdsong, changing light, and the rhythm of nature.

It's a reminder that some of Ireland's most valuable travel experiences don't involve admission tickets or famous landmarks.

Sometimes they're found in the quiet spaces between them.

Travelers considering a few days in Cavan should keep a few things in mind.

Layers are essential.

A waterproof jacket is highly recommended, regardless of the forecast. Conditions can change quickly, and being prepared makes outdoor activities far more enjoyable.

Cavan rewards travelers who aren't in a hurry.

Leave room in the itinerary for unexpected stops, scenic viewpoints, and leisurely walks.

During busy periods, kayaking trips and guided experiences can fill quickly. Advance booking helps ensure availability and allows operators to prepare for your visit.

Hawthorne Lodge

Situated within the Cuilcagh Lakes Geopark, Hawthorn Lodge is a terrific base for exploring the area, providing a ‘home away from home' experience (but with made-to-order breakfast).

Castle Hamilton by the Lakes

The estate's restored courtyard cottages, once home to horse-drawn carriages, now provide cozy retreats for guests seeking a blend of history and modern comfort. Each cottage exudes charm, equipped with self-contained kitchens and inviting living spaces where guests can unwind after a day of exploration.

Finish your trip with a splurge at Cabra Castle

This castle hotel doesn't feel overly modern, with rooms and hallways cutting through the building in a manner that can only be described and higgledy-piggledy.

It's a quiet spot, no golf or estate activities (though planning has been approved for a spa on the grounds) and is a popular relaxation getaway.

Book direct (check offers) – Expedia – Booking.com

When asked what visitors shouldn't miss, Sean's recommendations reflected the simple pleasures that make Cavan special.

Whether it's a kayak, canoe, or boat trip, experiencing Cavan from the water offers a completely different perspective on the landscape.

A quiet woodland walk may end up being one of the most memorable parts of the trip. Bring a flask, take your time, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Cavan's cafés, restaurants, farm shops, and delis offer more than good food. They're also places where visitors can connect with locals, hear stories, and experience the area's famous hospitality.

The Ireland Travel Compass brings together hundreds of places across the country and helps you turn ideas like these into a trip that fits your time and travel style.

County Cavan may not appear on every Ireland itinerary, but that's part of its appeal. For travelers seeking quiet landscapes, meaningful outdoor experiences, and a chance to slow down for a few days, this corner of Ireland offers exactly that. And as many visitors discover, the memories often come not from rushing between attractions, but from taking the time to enjoy the journey.

The post Slow Down and Discover County Cavan: Lakes, Castles, and Nature at Your Own Pace appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Ireland's history is rich and complex, with the Great Famine being one of the most significant events.

The Irish Famine, known as an Gorta Mór, the Great Hunger, in Ireland, changed not only Irish history but, arguably, the history and future of countries across the globe as over one million people died from hunger and other famine related diseases while up to two million emigrated.

This article delves into the National Famine Museum and the National Famine Way, offering a deep dive into the past and an inspiring journey for those interested in Irish heritage. It is based on a podcast episode featuring Caroilin Callery, a director of the Irish Heritage Trust, whose father, Jim, saved and shared over 50,000 documents from the famine as he explored Strokestown House. If you prefer to listen to the podcast, you can find the player at the bottom of the page.

Located in County Roscommon, Strokestown Park is home to the National Famine Museum. This estate, purchased by Jim Callery in 1979, holds an invaluable archive of over 50,000 documents from the famine era. Callery's serendipitous discovery of these documents has preserved a crucial part of Ireland's history.

The Museum Experience

Visitors can expect a comprehensive experience, from guided tours of the manor house to exploring the state-of-the-art museum. The museum's exhibits provide a poignant look at the lives of those affected by the famine, juxtaposed against the luxury of the manor house. The Victorian gardens and woodland walks offer a serene space for reflection.

Visitors can book their tickets online, though it is not strictly necessary.

Learn more at the Strokestown Park website of on the Strokestown Park social media accounts at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The National Famine Way is a 165 km trail from Strokestown to Dublin, retracing the steps of 1,490 emigrants who left during the Great Famine. This trail, developed between 2015 and 2019, is rich with historical markers, including bronze children's shoes that symbolize the arduous journey.

An Immersive Experience

Walkers can download an app for guided audio tours and collect stamps in a passport dedicated to a young famine emigrant, Daniel Tighe. The trail offers a transformative experience, engaging the feet, heart, brain, and soul.

Learn more about the National Famine Way, including the map, education pack, and app.

The Global Irish Famine Way extends the historical trail beyond Ireland, with bronze shoes placed in significant locations in Canada, the UK, and other countries. This initiative connects the Irish diaspora and commemorates the global impact of the famine.

Future Plans

Plans are underway to expand the trail to the United States, Australia, and South Africa. A conference is also scheduled for 2027, aiming to gather 1,490 participants to walk a segment of the trail, mirroring the original emigrants' journey.

Other notable sites to visit for those with a keen interest in the Irish famine. Each site offers unique insights into different aspects of the famine experience.

EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, and the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship in Dublin

The Dunbrody Famine Ship in Wexford

Portumna Workhouse in Galway

The deserted famine village in Slieve Mor on Achill Island.

Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 232

The post The National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park and the National Famine Way appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Often overshadowed by its neighboring tourist hotspots, County Limerick is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.

Situated on the banks of the Shannon River, Limerick's history dates back to the Viking era, making it one of Ireland's oldest cities. Its strategic location facilitated trade and commerce, shaping its rich heritage over the centuries.

Limerick isn't just a pass-through; it's a destination in its own right, offering a blend of historical intrigue and scenic beauty.

This article is also available as a podcast. To listen please scroll to the player at the bottom of the page to listen.

Are you ready to embark on a journey through the hidden gems of County Limerick? In this article we delve deep into the heart of this captivating region, guided by Brendan Skelly, co-owner of Bronze and Beru, a distinguished driver guide service based in County Limerick.

Dive into the vibrant tapestry of Limerick City, where tales of Vikings and Normans intertwine with modern-day allure.

Wander through the cobbled streets of the Irish town, once a bustling medieval settlement, and marvel at the remnants of its storied past.

Venture into the English town, adorned with elegant Georgian houses and architectural marvels.

Don't miss iconic landmarks like King John's Castle and the Hunt Museum, each echoing Limerick's multifaceted history.

As you journey beyond the city limits, County Limerick unveils its scenic splendor and hidden treasures.

Explore medieval marvels in Kilmallock, a picturesque town steeped in history.

Lose yourself amidst the rolling hills and ancient ruins, where every stone tells a story of bygone eras. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of Lough Gur, home to the mystical Grange Stone Circle (the largest in Ireland) and a tapestry of stone-age wonders.

Tip: County Limerick falls within Ireland's Ballyhoura Region!
Find out more about this incredible area!

Ready to embark on your Ireland adventure? Let Bronze and Beru be your trusted guide.

With a wealth of knowledge and passion for Irish history, Bronze and Boru offers personalized tours that unveil the essence of County Limerick and beyond.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, nature lover, or simply seeking authentic experiences, Bronze and Boru curates bespoke journeys tailored to your interests. Discover the magic of Ireland with a team dedicated to creating unforgettable memories and revealing the true essence of the Emerald Isle.

Contact Bronze and Boru on their website. You can also connect and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

These immersive experiences offer a glimpse into the soul of County Limerick, inviting you to forge unforgettable memories in Ireland's hidden gem.

Dive into the fascinating world of aviation history at the Flying Boat Museum, where the legacy of transatlantic flights comes to life.

Explore the medieval charm of Kilmallock and discover its timeless allure amid ancient walls and architectural wonders.

Journey to Lough Gur, where the echoes of Ireland's ancient past resonate amidst breathtaking landscapes and sacred sites.

Looking for a great itinerary to add a few days in Limerick to?
Check out the Southwest Sampler

Whether you're exploring medieval towns, tracing ancient ruins, or savoring the tranquility of its countryside, County Limerick invites you to embrace the beauty of Ireland's southwest and create memories that will last a lifetime. So, pack your curiosity and embark on an adventure that promises to unveil the charm of County Limerick, one story at a time.

Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 210

The post County Limerick: Beyond the Tourist Trail appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.