The Irish Heritage Trust has launched a new App for the National Famine Way, the 165km cross country, historical trail from Roscommon to Dublin mostly along the Royal Canal in the last couple of weeks.
The free App adds another layer to the National Famine Way experience which also includes the National Famine Way Passport/Guide.
The self-guided Trail commemorates the ill-fated journey of 1,490 famine emigrants who walked from Strokestown Park to ships in Dublin in 1847, at the height of the Irish Famine.
The new App is centred around one of the original famine walkers from Strokestown Park - 12 year-old Daniel Tighe - who remarkably survived the horrific journey to Quebec, Canada. Award-winning author Marita Conlon-McKenna has written vignettes reimagining Daniel’s journey in 1847. Audio recordings on the App are connected to the 32 pairs of bronze children’s shoes interspersed along the route.
The App also includes videos at locations along the route by historians and national and international academics and experts on the Great Irish Famine including Cathal Póirtéir, Professor Christine Kinealy (Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University, USA) and Professor Mark Mc Gowan (University of Toronto).
To coincide with launch of the App, Mr. Jim Callery – the 86-year-old founder of the National Famine Museum and strategic partner of the Irish Heritage Trust walked the full 165km trail from Strokestown Park to Dublin. recently in the company of his daughter Caroilin.
Both of them joined Anne Norris on the Let's Talk show to talk about the app and how they got along on the long walk.
