Ireland's Great Hunger Museum will be staying in Connecticut but will be moving from Hamden to Fairfield.
The Echo reported Thursday that a decision on the museum's future was imminent. The announcement from Quinnipiac University, the museum's current home base, came Friday morning.
A statement from Quinnipiac said that the university would partner with the Gaelic-American Club of Fairfield for display of the collection, assuring a sustainable future and broad visibility for the collection
Said a statement from Quinnipiac: "Following a unanimous vote of the Quinnipiac Board of Trustees, Quinnipiac University announced today that it will partner with the Gaelic-American Club (GAC) of Fairfield to serve as the new location for Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum collection. The full collection will be displayed in a new space to be created by the GAC.
"The collection has vital historical significance in memorializing the Irish Great Hunger and the plight of victimized peoples. The university’s goal is to preserve the collection, to have it displayed intact, and for it to remain in Connecticut in a more central location accessible to a broader public. The decision follows extensive exploratory conversations with many organizations and community leaders as the university investigated multiple avenues to preserve the collection and its important message.
"The partnership with the Gaelic-American Club places the museum in a location at the heart of an already vibrant Irish-American community. The 75-year-old club is one of the largest Irish-American organizations in New England, with 6,000 members and a rich cultural program consisting of many active clubs and committees, and is located only 30 minutes from IGHM’s current location in Hamden. The university remains committed to keeping the collection together and honoring the terms of the original donor agreements for any items donated to IGHM.
"After reviewing multiple proposals, the university’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to partner with the GAC after the club submitted a sustainable plan based on its established infrastructure and cultural and financial resources to support the display of the full collection, and given the club’s location."
In recent weeks it had become apparent that there was a significant sentiment in Connecticut to keep the museum in the Nutmeg State. Other locations outside the state had been proposed.
“The goals of keeping the museum collection together, in Connecticut and cared for by the Irish-American community were paramount in our decision making,” said Arthur H. Rice, Esq., Chairman of Quinnipiac’s Board of Trustees.
“Working with the GAC means the university can ensure the collection remains broadly accessible as we also serve the growing needs of our students, faculty and staff. As Trustees, we must focus on the students and academic experience as we continue to adapt to accelerating changes in the higher education landscape.”
The Quinnipiac statement said that the The GAC plans to locate the museum within the Fairfield Historic District, alongside other local museums and the downtown shopping district. The museum will be adjacent to the GAC’s headquarters, which includes a restaurant and event space, and within walking distance of the Fairfield MetroNorth train station.
“In light of the university's decision to relocate the collection, the Gaelic-American Club is honored to partner on a solution that keeps the treasured IGHM collection here in Connecticut, safeguarded and shared widely by the Irish-American community,” said Amy O’Shea, a representative of the GAC.
BREAKING: Quinnipiac is moving the Great Hunger Museum collection to Fairfield in a partnership with the Gaelic-American Club. The university wanted to keep the collection together after closing down the Hamden museum and chose the GAC to preserve it. Story to come.
— The QU Chronicle (@QUChronicle) March 4, 2022
Gaelic-American Club Vice President John Foley added: “Now that a clear path forward has been established for the collection, it is time we unify our collective efforts and all rally around the shared goal of ensuring the future visibility and impact of the collection and the story that it tells.”
Quinnipiac will also will partner with the GAC on the educational message of the collection "and will continue to advance the academic and research programs of Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac, the Irish collection in the Lender Reading Room and educational activities related to Ireland. Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute offers lectures, conferences, courses, research opportunities and publications that provide a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of the Irish Famine. QU encourages the engagement of other schools and universities in the region to amplify the collection’s historic legacy."
The Gaelic American Club was founded in 1948 in Bridgeport by a group of Irish immigrants for the purpose of maintaining and celebrating Irish culture. By promoting social, civic and cultural activities, the GAC continues long held Irish traditions and educates future generations. For more information, visit www.gaconline.org.
The long awaited decision by Quinnipiac was also being reported today by the Hartford Courant and North Haven News.
