The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Hudson County in New Jersey have erected and have dedicated a Famine Memorial Monument in the city's Lincoln Park.
The monument is an eighteen feet tall Celtic Cross made of Barre Grey Granite, weighing 17,000 lbs. The monument was designed by the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Hudson County to include various images and symbols to represent Ireland and the Famine.
"The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Hudson County are elated to see this important monument finally standing in Jersey City," said Vince McHale, chairman of the Famine Monument committee.
"We are grateful to everyone throughout New Jersey who helped this project to be realized so future generations will remember the thousands of Irish, who in order to preserve their faith, suffered both famine and exile," he said.
McHale, on behalf of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, offered special thanks to Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Mayor Jeremiah Healy, and councilmen Bill Gaughan and Pete Brennan for all of their assistance.
The Famine Memorial Monument project was started by members of the Friendly Sons in February, 2003 as a way of remembering the lives lost in the Irish Famine of 1845-1852.
The monument, according to the committee, also serves as reminder of the lives of the countless Irish men and women who immigrated to the United States during that time and helped to build the United States of America.
Since 2003, according to the committee release, the Friendly Sons have worked diligently to raise awareness of the devastating Irish famine, known as An Gorta Mor, as well as to raise the $40,000 that was needed to fund the Jersey City Famine Memorial Monument.
