2026 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

In October 2003, after 12 years of hard work from a dedicated group of individuals, and with the support of The Irish community, local businesses, foundations and government, The Irish Memorial was unveiled in Philadelphia to commemorate the sesquicentennial of An Gorta Mór, the Irish Starvation.

The Monument has been the centerpiece of a 1.75-acre park developed on the cover bridge over I-95 at Front & Chestnut Street in Philadelphia since its dedication in October 2003.

The original goals of the Irish Memorial were to honor the memory of those who suffered and died during the Great Starvation; to recognize the indomitable spirit of the Irish who triumphed over adversity; and to recognize the contributions the Irish have made as an integral part of the fabric of this Country.

In the 20 plus years that followed, the Irish Memorial has been the site of countless events that have remembered the plight of the victims of the starvation, celebrated their tenacity and resilience, and recognized the numerous contributions the Irish have made to Philadelphia, our state, and our country.

The Irish Memorial has become a destination for visitors to the City. The park, a scenic “outdoor musuem” at the banks of Old City, attracts thousands of visitors each year. In addition to being a place of special interest to the Irish and other immigrants, it draws many visitors to experience this bronze fine art is the work of the renowned artist, Glenna Goodacre(1939-2020), which is one of the largest and most evocative sculptures.

In addition to the initial $3,000,000 cost to construct the Memorial and Park, the Irish Memorial has invested over $400,000 to regularly maintain and improve the monument and the site, as well as promote the mission of the Irish Memorial.

One of our key missions in erecting the Irish Memorial was to educate people on the truth of the so-called “Potato Famine” of 1845–1850. In fact, it was a starvation of the Irish people. Over one million Irish died of diseases related to the lack of food, large quantities of barley, beef, butter, eggs, pork, and other foods—as well as large quantities of livestock, sufficient to support the Irish population many times over—were being forcibly exported. In addition to those who starved, another million plus died on “coffin ships” as they left Ireland for other countries, including the United States.

In 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the City of Philadelphia announced the I-95 CAP Project, a major construction effort that includes renovating I-95 through Center City, replacing the cap between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, and reconnecting the city to the waterfront. As a result, the Irish Memorial will be relocated to a temporary site during construction. The project is scheduled for completion in 2029, when the memorial will return to a prominent location at Front and Walnut Streets, at the entrance to the new 11.5-acre park at Penn’s Landing.

The Park at Penn’s Landing will create a new green space and connect Old City to the Delaware River waterfront. The park will feature the new home of the Irish Memorial as well as various amenities like a pavilion, ice rink, amphitheater, and pedestrian access.

Through the generosity of Buckley and Company, the major contractor on the CAP Project, they constructed a temporary site and relocated the Irish Memorial to Spruce Street and 39th Parallel Place in late 2023, only a few blocks from our original site.

A campaign, “Prepare for the Journey Home” will take the Irish Memorial into the next generation and beyond.

During this time, we are launching a fundraising campaign to cover certain construction costs, make improvements to the educational information stations, and cover the cost of security cameras at the new site, as well as raise funds to re-design our website and create a virtual tour for visitors. In addition, we are looking to create an endowment that would create a permanent revenue source to cover the cost of annual maintenance and operating costs of the Irish Memorial.

The annual maintenance is critical to the preservation of the monument and surrounding park. Each year, the Irish Memorial Board contracts to have the monument washed and waxed. After 23 years, the monument still looks new. The maintenance also covers landscaping and site improvements for the safety and security of visitors as well as regular clean-up of the site.

Our Goal: $1,100,000

Below is a detail of the campaign budget extracted from the visual records.

We hope you will join us in this campaign to ensure the long-term future of the Memorial and the work of the Irish Memorial Board.

What Can You Do?

Make a donation to the Irish Memorial to ensure the long-term future of the Irish Memorial. We will accept tax-deductible donations in any amount. Below are the Donor Levels for on-site recognition:

*The Irish Memorial Sponsor will have their name engraved on a single Ogham stone. The Ireland Sponsor will be one of three names engraved on a single Ogham Stone.