THREE postage stamps commemorating the Famine were issued yesterday. They feature three contemporary engravings from the London Illustrated News.
The 28p stamp shows passengers waiting to board an emigrant ship, the 32p stamp shows a family group attending to a dying child and the 52p stamp shows an Irish Society of Friends soup kitchen. They are designed by Q Design.
At a ceremony in the Famine Museum in Strokestown, Roscommon, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Dukes, said he was proud that An Post had always Invested time, money and care in commissioning artwork for stamps.
This costs An Post over £100,000 a year, according to Mr Norman Newcombe, its managing director.
"One of the pleasing spin-offs is that a lot more people are involved than us, the designers and the artists. We get about 300 ideas and suggestions for stamp themes every year," he said.
The stamps go on sale on Wednesday.
A special First Day Cover will be available from the Philatelic Bureau, GPO, Dublin and main post offices.