LA-based actor Patrick Bergin was in town this week to launch the Great Irish Famine Event, a commemorative extravaganza planned for the June Bank Holiday.
The weekend will make Cobh the centre of attention, with U2, The Cranberries, Van Morrison, and The Corrs set to play, and Gabriel Byrne and Bergin lined up for a theatrical event the following day. Funnily enough Sinead O'Connor, who seems to own the Famine, doesn't appear to be on the bill.
Jean Kennedy-Smith, chairperson of the event committee, was joined by Norma Smurfit Big Issues chief executive Ger Egan, Gorta boss Jim Coughlan and the event's director, Denis O'Reilly, in announcing the event, with The Chieftains' Paddy Moloney representing the assorted musicians. A replica Famine ship will dock on the Cork coast, and a recreated Famine village will be set-up near Millstreet.