| Murrisk Millennium Peace Park | |
|---|---|
 The National Famine Memorial within the park | |
 | |
| Location | Murrisk, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°46′51″N 9°38′26″W / 53.7807°N 9.6405°W |
| Area | 2.023 ha (5.00 acres)[1] |
| Created | 2001 |
| Operated by | Mayo County Council |
| Open | all year |
The Murrisk Millennium Peace Park is a five-acre park located north of the R335 road overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the village of Murrisk, County Mayo, Ireland at the foot of Croagh Patrick mountain.[2]
The landscaping of the park was purposefully designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, allowing for clear views of neighbouring Croagh Patrick, Murrisk Abbey and Clew Bay.[3] The minimal landscaping also serves to reinforce the stark visual impact of Ireland's National Famine Memorial, the Coffin Ship, a sculpture which stands prominently in the park.[1][4] The unveiling of the memorial by President Mary Robinson on 20 July 1997 predated the opening of the Millennium Peace Park by some four years.[5]
The park was officially opened on 13 July 2001 by Minister Seamus Brennan T.D., Chairman of the National Millennium Committee which had funded the creation of the park through an award of £250,000.[6] On the park's official plaque it is stated that it was "dedicated to 2,000 years of Christian worship".[3] During the opening ceremony a blessing was performed by the Rev. Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam and Rector Canon Gary Hastings.[3] The park also serves to pay tribute to the spiritual importance of neighbouring Croagh Patrick, a site which has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1,500 years.[3] The park lies across the road from the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre car park and a short distance away from the ruins of Murrisk Abbey, founded in 1457 by the O'Malley family. A natural spring pond also exists within the park.[3]
- ^ a b "Murrisk Millennium Peace Park in Co. Mayo". mayo-ireland.ie. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Murrisk, Co. Mayo in the West of Ireland". murrisk.com. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "National Famine Memorial Cuimhneachán Náisiúnta ar an nGorta Mór". HMdb.org / THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "National Famine Memorial". irelandwesttours.com. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Murrisk, Co. Mayo (1997)". castlebar.ie. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "What it Says in the Castlebar and Mayo Papers. July 18th, 2001". castlebar.ie. 18 July 2001. Retrieved 13 August 2022.