The sound of Irish music filled the air and a crowd of several dozen people settled in for a special ceremony on Saturday, May 9 as St. Joseph’s Cemetery on East Sonora Road was the site for the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Irish Hunger Memorial.

It was 10 years ago that the memorial – the first in California – was dedicated in honor and remembrance of victims of the Irish famine. Some of those that fled Ireland made their way to the Central Valley and settled here; many are buried in the rural cemetery.

Serving as emcee for the program was Jim Brennan and the local Brennan’s Parlor group of musicians provided the entertainment.

Several selections were played as the crowd arrived for the 11 a.m. ceremony, and most of those attending took advantage of seating and enjoyed the music.

Father Tom Orlando provided a blessing, with Brennan then detailing the history of 26 Mile House, the town that became home to many of the Irish settlers.

He also provided information on the monument itself, and offered thanks to those who worked to bring the project to fruition and getting the monument installed at the cemetery, including special recognition to George Trainor, one of the driving forces in the project.

Brennan said he was grateful for the turnout, which he noted was one of the largest he has ever seen for the memorial service.

Also on hand was Elizabeth Creely, from the Irish Consulate of San Franciso, who has attended the program in the past and told the crowd that another monument is being planned, this one to be erected in San Francisco, as a remembrance for the famine victims.

“The groundbreaking is hopefully going to take place in July,” she said. “We would really love to see people from this community there when that happens.”

Creely said the strength of families that fled the famine and settled here can serve as a source of inspiration.

“The Fitzgeralds, the Nolans and the Brennans, and others … trusted that if they moved here and they cared for the land, that the land would take care of them,” Creely shared. “They didn’t live without hardship but I know that they lived with a sense of opportunity and the knowledge that their experience of the famine was over, and I believe that they were very happy to be here. We are grateful that they gave California the gift of their trust, the gift of their labor, and the gift of their lives so that we, their descendants, can continue to remember them, can continue to celebrate them and can continue to celebrate the enduring bond between California and Ireland.”