Ireland’s first famine museum

Strokestown House was built in 1730 and is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest and most intact Palladian mansions. Its center block was completed in 1696 but was extended around 1730 by the famous architect Richard Cassels. It points directly towards the main street of Strokestown which is reputedly the widest main street in Ireland. During the Great Famine, County Roscommon was badly affected by the potato blight, the population fell by 100,000 and an estimated 3,000 tenants were evicted from this estate and many were shipped off to America or Canada under a scheme funded by the absentee landlord Major Denis Mahon. Strokestown has been transformed into Ireland’s first famine museum, which occupies its adjoining stable wing. The museum was opened by President Robinson in May 1994 and now enjoys an international profile for highlighting poverty and hunger in today’s developing world and is now regarded as the finest privately funded restoration project in Ireland.

Thanks to Irish Heritage Trust – Bringing Places to Life for excellent informative video