Irish Famine Memorial Mass
East Bank of the Flats
Across from the Flat Iron Cafe
September 27, 2025

The Irish Famine Memorial monument, and surrounding area on the East bank of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland’s Flats, is a memorial to the Great Hunger, the potato famine of the 1840’s.

The front inscription reads: Irish Famine Memorial / Dedicated September 16, 2000

The back says: Cleveland Remembers / The Great Hunger / An Gorta Mor / Ireland’s Potato Famine 1845-50

This memorial commemorates the passing of / 150 years since the misery known as “The Great Hunger”. A carnage visited upon the Irish nation / diminishing her population by millions as a / result of imposed political and economic / structures, many of the Irish were driven to / the potato alone for survival. Consequently, /. Ireland’s people starved to death or were / forced to emigrate. Many dying on “Coffin / Ships” en route. This is one of the most / tragic and significant events in Irish history.

Lest we forget: / To those who died, / to those who came and enriched our / Cleveland shores / we dedicate this monument to you.

Erected on the anniversary of the ‘Great Hunger’ / by the Greater Cleveland Irish Community in the year of / our Lord 2000

Each year Members of the Cleveland Irish community celebrate a Mass at the monument to remember those who died in what is called a famine but in reality was more of a political action.

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Mary Alice Fitzgerald and John O'Brien Sr.

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John O'Brien Jr. and Linda Carney

Father Thomas Mahoney

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Father Francis Walsh

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