Description

This cemetery in Abbeystrowry serves as one of the most chilling and deeply moving reminders of the immense human tragedy that unfolded during The Great Famine of 1845–1852. Approximately 9,000 men, women, and children were buried here without coffins, in large communal pits. While many of the burials predate and postdate the famine, the stark contrast between the ornate wrought-iron crosses, stone markers, and the unadorned grassy area marking the burial pits only amplifies the cemetery's poignant history.

Located on the outskirts of Skibbereen in West Cork, this area endured unparalleled suffering during an Gorta Mór (The Great Hunger). Many of those buried in the pits came from the Skibbereen Workhouse, where they sought refuge and food at the height of their desperation but instead found disease and death.

The workhouse, which opened on March 19, 1842, was built to accommodate 800 people. However, by December 1848, during the height of the famine, the workhouse housed a staggering 4,230 individuals. Disease was rampant within the overcrowded conditions, with cholera and yellow fever being the primary causes of death. Mortality rates in Skibbereen reached their peak in early 1847, with heartbreaking records:

Week ending March 20th: 82 deaths
Week ending March 27th: 106 deaths
Week ending April 3rd: 67 deaths
Abbeystrowry Cemetery stands as a testament to the resilience of those who suffered and serves as a reminder of a dark chapter in Ireland's history.