A Story Behind the Story - Irish Famine
by Lexa Harpell
Title
A Story Behind the Story - Irish Famine
Artist
Lexa Harpell
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
There is a story behind this story....
Dublin's Famine Statues 'walk' along the quay toward the boats for a promise of a better life - a memorial of the famine years depicting migrating sufferers of Ireland's Great Famine from 1845 to 1852.
More than 1 million people died during the famine and another 1 million emigrated during this period, many dying on the 'death ships' across the Atlantic.
The statues are compelling artistic creations of individuals from this period - tall, lean, made from bronze, suffering etched into their faces, hanging onto the last threads of life and hope.
I saw them more as ghostly figures of Ireland's tragic past.
While I was capturing images, I noticed a young man was lovingly placing flowers in the statue's hands. My curiosity sparked and stopped to talk to him, asking if I could help.
We chatted about the city, where he 'lived' - rather slept - under a nearby bridge as he was homeless. He told me he comes here almost every day to 'talk' to the statues, they were his friends.
He then began telling me gut wrenching detailed stories about each statue's (person's) plight as if he knew them personally and deeply.
When we finished placing flowers in their hands, I asked 'Why the flowers?'
He turned and said,
"Because it gives them HOPE"
A huge golf ball rolled in my throat, my tears welled...all was silent.
Somehow, I summoned the words to thank him for allowing me to help and the stories he shared.
People's stories and plights continue through time..
Uploaded
March 1st, 2021
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Viewed 221 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/24/2024 at 7:25 AM
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