Description of the Memorial

The Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial is located on the Providence River Walk and is comprised of two major structures, as well as an accompanying walkway, commemorative bricks and granite flagstones, benches, and flags. The first piece of the memorial is known as the “Narrative Plaque." Shure describes this plaque as an educational piece of artwork that depicts in words and sculpture the history of the Irish famine and the assimilation of the Irish people in American society.[1] The Narrative Plaque has “Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial” inscribed into granite stone, followed by written history and visual history. The written history includes a summary by Dr. Malloy of the experiences of survivors who fled the Famine and a summary by Dr. Deigan, predecessor of Ray McKenna, of Ireland’s experience during the disaster.[2] The walkway then leads the viewer to a second sculpture, one of three figures. It includes a woman sitting on the ground as she holds a starving man, as one can tell from his frail chest and his protruding ribs. This image is strikingly similar to Michelangelo’s Pieta, as the Virgin Mary holds the body of Christ after his crucifixion.[3] The third figure is a man facing the opposite direction of the woman, seemingly looking towards the future, the new lands as they prepare to immigrate elsewhere. The sculpture is surrounded by commemorative bricks and benches that honor those who funded the memorial. There are also three flags, the American flag, Irish flag, and Rhode Island State flag.

[1] Kathleen Shure and Robert Shure. From the Sculptor. https://rifaminememorial.com.

[2] Conley. “Rhode Island’s Famine Memorial: A Tribute to the Survivors.”

[3] “Michelangelo’s Pieta .” ItalianRenaissance.Org – Analysis of the Art of Renaissance Italy, http://www.italianrenaissance.org/michelangelos-pieta/.