Nestled in the heart of County Roscommon, amid the rolling greenery of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, lies a place where history breathes from the very walls: the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park. A visit here is no ordinary tour—it is a moving, immersive journey into the darkest chapter of Ireland’s past, a place where the echoes of sorrow and survival still linger in the air. For anyone exploring the soul of Ireland, this is not merely a recommended stop—it is a must-see experience.
The museum is housed in the restored Strokestown Park House, a majestic Georgian Palladian mansion that once belonged to the Anglo-Irish Mahon family. This elegant estate, with its manicured walled gardens and scenic woodlands, contrasts hauntingly with the stories that unfold inside the museum—stories of famine, eviction, exile, and loss. It is this stark juxtaposition that gives the National Famine Museum its exceptional emotional power.
From ruin to remembrance
The museum owes its very existence to the foresight and dedication of Jim Callery, who discovered over 50,000 famine-era documents hidden within the decaying house after it was purchased by the Westward Group in 1979. These documents—letters, ledgers, and eyewitness accounts—form the backbone of the Strokestown Park Famine Archive, one of the most significant collections of its kind in the world.
Restoration of the house and preservation of the documents was an enormous undertaking. “It could have ended up on a bonfire,” noted Caroilin Callery, Jim’s daughter and a director of the Irish Heritage Trust. Instead, these precious artefacts were safeguarded and transformed into the soul of a museum that speaks powerfully to Ireland’s turbulent past and its far-reaching diaspora.
A personal connection to the past
What makes the National Famine Museum so compelling is its deeply personal approach. The museum doesn’t simply offer dates and statistics—it tells stories. The lives of tenants and landlords, families and children, are brought to life through interactive exhibits, poignant objects, and audio-visual displays. You can listen to the desperate words of a starving tenant:
“Our families are really and truly suffering in our presence and we cannot much longer withstand their cries for food.”
Or follow the fate of the 1,490 tenants forced to emigrate to Canada in 1847, many of whom died en route or shortly after arrival.
The museum also gives space to the landlord’s perspective, particularly that of Major Denis Mahon, whose controversial role in the mass emigrations—and his subsequent assassination—offers insight into the class and power dynamics that shaped Ireland’s suffering during An Gorta Mór, the Great Hunger.
A living archive
Visitors can explore documents from the archive in the museum or online through the Treasures of the Strokestown Park Famine Archive virtual exhibition. The Great Famine Voices project, another powerful initiative, collects stories from Irish emigrants and their descendants around the world, helping to preserve oral histories before they fade.
These memories—passed down through generations—add depth and resonance to the museum’s narrative, reminding us that the famine’s legacy continues to ripple through families and communities across the globe.
The Great Famine Voices Roadshow, inspired by those 1,490 displaced tenants, is a particularly touching component of the museum’s outreach. It’s more than history—it’s healing, remembrance, and connection, supported by the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.
An experience for all ages
While the museum tackles serious and often harrowing themes, it does so in a way that’s engaging and accessible to all visitors. Thoughtfully curated exhibits cater to children and students, with interactive displays that foster empathy and curiosity. Older children studying Irish history will find the museum an invaluable complement to their learning, while younger ones can connect through storytelling and visual elements that make the past feel immediate.
Allow at least three hours to explore the museum, the Palladian house, and the beautifully restored walled gardens and woodland paths. Afterward, you can unwind in the Woodland Café, located in the old granary, and reflect on the emotional weight of your visit over a coffee or a locally made treat.
A portal into ireland’s hidden heartlands
Strokestown Park is more than a museum; it’s a time capsule of Irish history. From its atmospheric croquet lawn and summer house to its untouched Georgian interiors, the estate has become a sought-after location for film and television, offering an authentic backdrop to the stories of the past. But the real drama lies within its walls—in the voices of famine victims, emigrants, and survivors, and in the decision of a few passionate individuals to preserve those voices against the odds.
Strokestown Park’s stories—and its restoration—are a testament to the importance of memory, heritage, and resilience. The museum invites us not just to learn, but to feel. It compels us to witness history not from a distance, but from within.
Whether you have ancestral ties to Ireland or are simply seeking a deeper understanding of its soul, a visit to the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park is unforgettable. It is a powerful, human experience that lingers long after you leave—one that will forever change how you see Ireland and its history.
So as you chart your journey through Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, let Strokestown be more than a stop. Let it be a pilgrimage.
