Irish Hunger Memorial

Memorial park · Battery Park City

Irish Hunger Memorial

Memorial park · Battery Park City

North End Ave &, Vesey St, New York, NY 10280

Highlights

Park with authentic Irish cottage, soil, and stones

North End Ave &, Vesey St, New York, NY 10280 Get directions

bpca.ny.gov

@bpcparks

@afar

"Setting foot on Irish soil in New York The Irish potato famine ("An Gorta Mor") is in the mid 1800s saw the migration of a million people to America following a blight destruction of potato crops in Ireland . Visitors to Battery Park City can appreciate the depth and beauty of Ireland (complete with original soil from Carradoogan from the parish of Attymass in County Mayo) if they visit the Irish Hunger Memorial memorial located on Vesey Street and North End Avenue. Haunting, exquisite and deeply moving in a raw agrarian way, the Memorial was designed by artist Brian Tolle and landscape architect Gail Wittwer-Laird. What I loved about the memorial is its quiet beauty. There are no ostentatious plaques or audio system; instead, the landscaped plot tells a story in and of itself, using stones, soil, native vegetation and an original cottage which belonged to the Irish Slack family which was deserted in the 1960s because of their move to the United States. Visitors can wander freely on the path at all hours of the day (there is no gate or entry times) and gaze at a peach-colored sunset settling into the skyscrapers. A powerful memorial located close to the World Trade Center and smack opposite to the Conrad Hilton in New York (my hotel room had a direct view), the memorial deepens your appreciation for the cultural and ethnic melting pot that is New York. By Charu Suri"

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@davidcho

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Mara Martins

Google

A peaceful and meaningful place with a beautiful view I brought my mom to the Irish Hunger Memorial and it was a really special experience. It’s such a peaceful spot in the middle of the city, with a stunning view of the Hudson River and the surrounding skyline. The memorial itself is beautiful and thought-provoking, it’s not just a place to walk through, but to reflect and learn. We loved how it combines history, nature and art all in one. It was a lovely moment to share with my mom and I highly recommend visiting if you’re in NYC. It’s free, open to everyone and a quiet break from the busy city.

Swapnil Mahajan

Google

A moving and peaceful tribute in the heart of the city. The Irish Hunger Memorial is a beautifully designed space that quietly honors the lives lost during the Great Famine. Walking through the stone cottage and grassy path feels like stepping into rural Ireland—right in the middle of Manhattan. The quotes and history carved into the walls are powerful and emotional. It’s a reflective, peaceful spot with beautiful river views, and definitely a hidden gem worth visiting. Checkout Wanderlust Swapnil for detail vlog on YouTube

Brock Napoli

Google

Beautiful memorial for the Irish my grammas maiden name is Murphy, we loved the koi fish pond

Sarah McK

Google

Very beautiful and moving. It actually made me a little emotional. The flora from Ireland really did make it feel like I was at home. Even those little succulents on the walls that I’d forgotten. As an Armagh native, i’m a little bias but i was so excited when I found the Armagh stone. The positioning of it reminded me of standing on top of the hill behind Armagh cathedral and looking over the city (although this city has much bigger buildings 😂)

Neil P McGuinness

Google

This is a beautiful memorial to Ireland's Great Fame. It's a living memorial with plants and trees to make it look like a hillside in Ireland in the middle of Battery Park City. It's definitely worth the visit. Especially if you are Irish. ☘️

Lou M

Google

This is definitely one of the interesting and well-thought memorials in New York. The architecture design is grabbing the attention of everyone walking there and makes you want to learn more about it. It is a great way to educate and raise awareness of the Great Irish Hunger between 1845-1852 when more than one million people starved to death. All the material used there - stones, soil, vegetation were transported from Ireland and the stones are from each Irish country. The authentic cottage which was also donated by an Irish family brings even more realistic vibe of the memorial.

Angela Carmen Sanchez

Google

This was my first time at this memorial. It is intriguing to me because I just learned about the plight of the Irish People at that time. It is beautifully done in stone in Irish Architecture at that time. (See Lou M review for details about this place)

Patrick Olden

Google

Powerful memorial that highlights the struggles of Irish immigrants who left a Ireland in search of a better life in America. Built from resources taken from the west of Ireland the memorial is a perfect representation of rural Ireland and contains stones representing each of the 32 counties. The memorial also offers great views of New Jersey and World Trade Center.