During the dark days of the Great Irish famine thousands of Irish were forced to abandon their homes and make the long and arduous journey to the Americas on board the Famine Ships.

Over a few short months in the summer of 1847, 38,000 famine emigrants arrived in the city of Toronto. Sadly 1,100 died. The population of the city at that time was just 20,000.
A specially designated site situated at the entrance of Toronto harbour has been chosen to commemorate those who arrived safely and those who lost their lives. Five figures by Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie (pictured above in Dublin) depicting the emigrants will be displayed in a setting of stone columns, oak trees, and an illuminated cylinder of stacked glass which is symbolic of the New World.

In June of this year the garden, which is to be named Ireland Park, will be opened. President Mary McAleese will pay an official visit to Toronto to celebrate this special occasion.