Oregon Irish Famine Memorial
History · Views · Nearby forest Park and pittock mansion
It's St. Patrick's Day!🍀 And for the 30 million Americans who claim Irish heritage, it's a day to get back to our roots with corned beef and cabbage, a thick slice of soda bread and a frothy pint of Guinness.
But how the Irish came to the US is a little less party and a little more nightly news. From 1845 to 1851, the Irish Potato Famine ravaged Ireland. More than 1 million Irish starved in the Great Hunger. Another 1.3 million Irish fled to America in hopes of survival. Portland saw this influx of Irish into the US. The Irish made up just 1% of Portland’s population in 1850. By 1860, that number had grown to 10%. Like many immigrant groups to the US, the Irish faced fierce discrimination. Yet through unimaginable hardship, the Irish persevered, building businesses, schools, churches and St. Vincent's Hospital - Oregon's first permanent hospital.
Most of Portland's famine survivors are buried here, atop Portland's West Hills at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In 2008, this Irish-made cross (a replica of the medieval Cross of the Scriptures at Clonmacnoise) was dedicated by then Irish President, Mary McAleese, as a memorial to those who survived the Irish Potato Famine.
“The visionaries of this memorial did not strive to replicate a representation of the devastation caused by the Famine or the tragedy of lives lost, but rather they wanted to provide visitors with a tangible image of the resilience of Ireland and its people.”
Getting There
The Oregon Irish Famine Memorial is located in the West Hills, 10 minutes west of Downtown Portland at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery. If you drive the West Hills, it is likely that you have seen the sandstone high cross at the corner of Burnside and Skyline. No worries if you’re not familiar with the area - when you see the beautiful rolling green hills at the top of West Burnside Road, you’re there. The memorial is also easily accessible by Trimet Bus 20 with a stop at the parking lot.
A historical marker near the parking lot gives context to the memorial. From there it’s a very short walk up to the high cross. Be prepared for a little mud and mushy grass if it’s been raining.
There are no public restrooms due to COVID. See the cemetery’s website for hours, though it is generally open year-round from 8am to dusk.
Oregon Irish Famine Memorial stats
Modeled on: The Cross of the Scriptures at Clonmacnoise, County Offaly (which dates back to 900 CE and depicts scenes from the Bible)
Sculptor: Brendan McGloin from Donegal (it took him 2.5 years!)
Size: 7 tons, 14 feet tall
Materials: Sandstone, Irish limestone base, concrete foundation
Foundation: The concrete holds a stone from the Hill of Tara, seat of the historic High Kings of Ireland, to commemorate the past; a euro for the present; and a stone from County Mayo on April 10, the day the Good Friday Peace Agreement was signed in 1998, represents Ireland's future.
Cost: $200,000, raised through private funds and land donation
*Source: The Oregonian, Portland memorial honors victims of Ireland's 1840s famine
An Irish President was here!
On a sleeting December day in 2008, Irish President, Mary McAleese dedicated the Oregon Irish Famine Monument, making her the first Irish President to visit Portland while in office.
“Here in Oregon this memorial to the Irish Famine will speak for years to come of those Irish who came here with nothing but who planted here their faith and their trust and gave to Oregon the gift of their lives and their children’s lives and an enduring bond of kin and clan between Ireland and Oregon.”
The experience
As a person with Irish ancestry, I found the memorial particularly meaningful. I was able to learn with my son about the Irish who came to Oregon because of the famine and talk with him about how those events shaped our own family. I always make a thing out of St. Patrick’s Day. Before COVID, I would take my grandma and kids out to McMenamins and listen to Irish music and enjoy soda bread and corned beef with cabbage. This will be the first St. Patrick’s Day since my grandma’s passing. And on this particular day my son and I were headed to her house in Portland to help pack up her things. After seeing the memorial then driving through Downtown on the way to her house, I was reminded of all the stories she used to tell me about our family history and of her own adventures growing up on the farm then moving to Portland as a young woman. For me, I will think of her every time I see that cross and how she strove to keep those family stories alive.
I am also reminded, as the world holds its breath, of the struggle of those who continue to flee hunger, war and unimaginable circumstances. Perhaps David O'Longaigh, the project’s lead, says it best:
““As successful as the Irish have become, I think it’s important to remember how humble we once were and to reach out your hand to someone who needs.””
Nearby Attractions
Forest Park (one of America’s largest urban forests), Washington Park (Oregon Zoo, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Hoyt Arboretum and other cool stops), and Pittock Mansion are all nearby. For a great hike through these parts, check out our post, Pittock Mansion via Wildwood Trail.
And there you have it - a visit to the Oregon Irish Famine Memorial. As always, be sure to check local resources for weather, road conditions and COVID-19 related closures when planning your trip. And don’t forget to post your photos to #lifelivedoregonstyle on Instagram. We’ll see you out there!
*Sources for this post include Portland memorial honors victims of Ireland's 1840s famine in the Oregonian and President unveils Celtic cross memorial to Famine survivors in Portland, Oregon in the Irish Times.