Jim Callery, the founder of the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park arrived in triumph yesterday at EPIC, the Emigration Museum on his 90th birthday.
He has just completed the entire 165km of the National Famine Way and raised almost €55,000 for immigration charities in the process.
He did the walk in remembrance of Strokestown’s Missing 1,490 famine emigrants.
His wife Adeline and two sisters (96 and 94 year old Eileen O Connell and Nanette Callery) were there to welcome him along with four generations of his family.
The last stage was a short, glorious walk from Cross Guns Bridge at the 3rd lock on the Royal Canal to Custom House Quay, the Famine Statues and EPIC Museum.
“”I’m delighted with how the fundraising walk on the NFW went,” Jim said yesterday.
“I thoroughly enjoyed doing it and the support from family and friends was amazing.
“I feel younger and fitter now than when?I?started!”, said the youthful nonagenarian.
The fundraiser is still open and Jim invites his friends, colleagues and supporters to donate through his GoFundMe page.
Jim was the person responsible for saving Strokestown Park House for the nation in 1979 and for setting up the National Famine Museum there.
He was awarded a European Heritage Europa Nostra Award (EU Prizes for Cultural Heritage) in 1979 and the citation said “The restoration and establishment of the world renowned Irish National Famine Museum & Archive by Mr. Callery has been the largest act of private philanthropy for cultural heritage in the history of modern Ireland”.
The National Famine Way traverses six counties and is a collaboration between Waterways Ireland, the Irish Heritage Trust and the county councils along the route.
The local authorities involved are Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare, Fingal, and Dublin.
The symbol of the National Famine Way is a pair of children’s shoes displayed at the National Famine Museum.
The trail is waymarked by bronze replicas as a poignant reminder of the journey the 1,490 evicted tenants made.
The National Famine Way is open to walkers at any time and the route and associated stories can be followed through a free app.
Walkers can also purchase an official passport to get stamped along the route.
