Irish Hunger Memorial

Nice nature and a great view! A little small and the nature is pretty sparse in the winter, but a cool place to stop by to take a picture if you’re in the area.

The sides of the walls on the base of the memorial have facts regarding hunger issues in the world today making the historical event it memorializes relevant to us today. The actual garden on top looks like the shire with a beautiful if the Hudson the the statement island ferry. If you’re a tourist I would stop by here after you have seen the World Trade Center for a quick thoughtful break.

After a pretty stressful morning I needed a nearby place to have quiet moment. The Irish Hunger memorial was the perfect place. It was not overwhelmed with tourists taking pictures or people with unnecessary banter.
It is a slight hill that leads you to an elevated level that allows you to make out Ellis Island and the statue of Liberty in the distance.
The memorial is a representation of famine in Ireland where over one million people died in the 1800’s and a reminder of the hunger that remains around the world. There is a symbolic cottage type design enclosed by several different types of plants and beautiful limestone. The plants are aromatic and it is peaceful enough to hear crickets.
This is a beautiful site to visit and reflect on the many things we should be grateful for.

I took my mother here when she was visiting, she is from Cork, Ireland. She really enjoyed it. It meant a lot to read the different quotes on the memorial and we enjoyed looking for her county stone. There are leaflets at the memorial to give you some background about the memorial.
What’s crazy is that I have probably walked past this before and not realised. It blends into the city very well, but yet up close the garden with its native Irish flora is amazing. I’m really glad we visited.

My friends and I stumbled on this memorial when we walked out of the movie theater in Battery Park City. As you walk in, you go through a stylistic tunnel that has words etched into the sides describing what the memorial is commemorating. When you get through the tunnel you are transported into Ireland. You see an old Irish structure brought in from Ireland. As you turn the corner you see a meadow of wild flowers as if you were in the Irish countryside. When you get to the top you have a beautiful view of the Hudson and New Jersey one way and One World Trade the other way. This is a lovely, very beautifully architecturally designed memorial. Great sight to see if you are visiting the WTC and Battery Park.

I remember watching this memorial get built in the aftermath of ⁹⁄₁₁ and I understood the intention of the memorial but it was an odd concrete structure to be sure.
When it finally opened, I entered the darkened hallway and slowly walked the short winding path that led to a meadow. In minutes, I was transported to somewhere else as I reached the top.
Surrounded by apartment buildings in the midst of one of the densest population centers in the United States, it’s a brilliant installation of landscape architecture. It’s an optical illusion.

This is such a unique way to commemorate the Great Hunger in Ireland. It is literally a little patch of Ireland in the middle of NYC. The 96′ x 170′ Memorial, designed by artist Brian Tolle, contains stones from each of Ireland’s 32 counties, and is elevated on a limestone plinth. Along the base are bands of texts separated by layers of imported Kilkenny limestone. The text, which combines the history of the Great Famine with contemporary reports on world hunger, is cast as shadow onto illuminated frosted glass panels. Incredible.

Beautiful memorial and a nice visual break from the stark buildings of downtown NYC. Felt like I was in a little corner of Ireland. Also, being of Irish Heritage it was nice to have a little reminder of my ancestors.

Beautiful memorial that commemorates the genocide of the Irish.
The entire memorial is set like you’re taking a stroll through Ireland in the middle of the city. Not to take away from the memorial and to offend but it’s like taking a stroll through The Shire from Lord of the Rings. It’s beautiful with all the greenery, authentic looking stone and a path that takes you to the top where you have a nice view of World Trade Center, the river, and a bit of the city. It’s a very short walk to the top but very worth checking out. On the bottom of the walk is a wall listing names and farms affected from this plight. It was beautiful during the day but I got a different view at night. The names glow at night like a bright beacon calling you to come take a look. I’ve never seen such a thing before and I’m so glad we happened to stumble upon this structure.
This place is also great for taking professional photos, when there aren’t so many ppl around! I would visit this place again in a heart beat, although it takes about 10 minutes to see everything.

Amazing place. Feels like Ireland. It is a lovely memorial around a beautiful area. You have One Trade Center on one side and the cool wind from the river on the another. Loved it.

Pretty awesome. From Ireland and it literally looks like someone just placed it there between all the skyscrapers (I know that’s what they did) very well done construction and many of the large rocks are from counties in Ireland. Would have been cool if every county had one. That’s the only star loss. Information around building is cool.

One day after going to the movies for a Saturdate with Jon, we were strolling around Tribeca/​Battery Park and enjoying the beautiful fall weather. We came upon the Irish Hunger Memorial and thought it was quite pretty. We were curious as to what this modern platform like thing was… almost sort of in the middle of no where. We saw some people walking around the top of it and decided to check out what it was.
As we got nearer and walked towards the entrance we then realized what we stumbled upon. The Irish Hunger Memorial is a nice additional to the area. You have a beautiful view of the Freedom Tower and also views of the Hudson River. While you’re inside you will find information about the famine and how the Irish overcame this tragedy. Neither Jon nor I am Irish. I mean, my name is Irish and I like drinking… so maybe I can be honorary Irish. but we both still appreciated the beauty of the place and respected what the purpose of this memorial is.
I really enjoyed just standing at the top and watching the clouds go by, but what I found most intriguing were the quotes along the sides of the memorial leading inside. It’s very interesting and worth it to check out if you have a spare moment and are already in the area. It’s a nice peaceful spot, you almost forget you’re still in Manhattan.

How did I miss this for so long?
Situated randomly in the Battery Park area, it is a nice place to go if you want to ‘escape’ from the chaos of the city for a minute.
It’s quiet, clean, and there wasn’t a mass crowd of people there when I was there, which I enjoyed. Everything on the memorial is indigenous to Ireland, too.
If you are in the area and have a few minutes to spare it’s worth checking out.

The Irish Hunger Memorial is one of those spots in NYC that I feel is often forgotten.
Between the organic architecture and the history that is spelled out in its walls there is this really cool, unique beauty about it. Absolutely worth a visit if you find yourself on the West Side. I’m not sure how late its open– but at night the lights on the outside come on and illuminate historical facts about the Great Famine. Beautiful.

I love this memorial. I really do. I don’t have any personal connection to the Irish Potato Famine, other than I am a human being with empathy. But, even if you «don’t care» about the theme of the memorial, it’s a lovely spot in Manhattan to while 20 – 30 minutes. It’s beautiful. It’s unusual. It’s exceptionally well done. And, if you actually engage with the monument as a memorial instead of a small park, it’s moving. Pick up the brochure and read what the artist actually donated to the city through this memorial.

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling,
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side,
The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling,
‘Tis you, ’tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow…
‘Tisn’t blarney that caused this memorial to appear out of the ruins of ⁹⁄₁₁. In fact, it’s pure coincidence that this happened to have been constructed right when ⁹⁄₁₁ occurred at Ground Zero just two blocks away. While sculptor Brian Tolle’s memorial was not meant to be a tribute to those lost in that tragedy, it can’t help but gain resonance from its proximity to the new One World Trade Center nearing completion (photo:
). The bigger issue to which these becalming grounds drive attention is world hunger as the hodgepodge structure of old and modern represents a more literal commemoration of a 150-​year-​old tragedy, the Great Irish Famine of 1845 – 52. The effect is subtle but compelling.
Located on a vacant patch in Battery Park City close to the New York Waterway ferry terminal, the centerpiece is a gigantic concrete slab that slopes upward and culminates into a hilltop that overlooks the Hudson River (photo:
). Underneath the slab is a plinth lined with glass-​covered bands which contain facts about the famine and the state of world hunger today along with quotes from traditional Irish poetry and songs (photo:
). This darkened passageway leads to the remnants of a stone cottage transported from County Mayo (photo:
) and then to the ramped walkway that leads up to the vista point. It’s probably a 15-​minute stop at most but well worth it for the serenity it brings to an otherwise bustling area.

Thanks for Bloss C for reviewing this memorial so I could make it a point to come see it. Though I am not of Irish descent, my wife is, her grandparents on her mother’s side both came from County Mayo.
I would say yesterday was a typical Irish weather day with the sun coming out at times but then pouring rain in the next, the only thing missing was the rainbow. :-)
I was very moved by the quotes lining the walls of the entryway and even in the rain the landscaping was beautiful. We tried to find the stone that came from my wife’s county but was unable to due to the weather and the grass was high which may have covered the stone.
I will definitely come back in clearer weather to spend more time perusing the area. We discovered that it was really close to the NY Waterway Ferry so we were able to get to Hoboken and take a cab home.

Why not give it 5 stars? It’s a beautiful memorial that combines nature, modern design, and a powerful message often forgotten. It’s an unexpected memorial nestled inside of Battery Park City. It’s right on the boardwalk facing the Hudson River surrounded by benches. It’s a very relaxing area to visit if you’ve never been.
In todays age if a handful of people are killed in this country it’s a huge national tragedy. Well in the seven years between 1845 – 1852 about a million Irish died of hunger. I can’t even fathom that amount of loss, especially with a country as small as Ireland. It was a huge turning point for the country as 20−25% of the countries population either died or emmigrated out (that’s like 70million US citizens just dying or leaving the country in the next 7 years).
The memorial was started about 6 months prior to 9÷11÷01 so obviously there was a delay in finishing it. It was finally unveiled in July 2002. The sloping plot of land utilizes stones and natural vegetation flown in from Ireland and has a very rustic Irish feel to it. The memorial also includes part of a reconstructed Irish cottage from the 1800s that was deserted in Ireland in the mid 1900s and brought to America specifically for the memorial.
Beneath all of this is a modern design more reminiscent of contemporary memorials. It’s a solemn and minimalistic corridor dedicated to those families who suffered during the Irish Famine.

I wouldn’t go far out of your way to visit the Irish Hunger Memorial, but if you do, you’ll find a lovely, thoughtful place in the midst of lower Manhattan. Its unusual but beautiful design takes you out of the city and places you in the Irish countryside (if you use a little imagination). You enter from a very modern tunnel that abruptly ends in stone walls of an «old» Irish home, and then you wind your way up a hill for a very nice view of the Hudson River. It feels peaceful and thoughtful, and the design (for me) is the right mix of city and country, old and new, man made and organic.
If you visit, it’s not likely you’ll spend more than 20 to 30 minutes exploring the Irish Hunger Memorial, but it may be one of the memorable things that you do while visiting lower Manhattan.

A beautiful little slice of green along the waterfront, the Irish Hunger Memorial is perfect for taking a quick walk during a lunch break to clear your head. It’s a bit too small and the paths duration is a little too brief to make it a destination in and of itself unless you incorporate other things in the area or if it has a special significance for you. It’s right next to the food truck court that mobilizes weekdays till 3pm, along with Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Francois Payard Bakery, and the Regal movie theater. If you’re going to any of those places, stopping by the memorial is a must.
It’s just such a peaceful place, a small piece of nature amid the concrete and buildings, it transports me out of the city for just a moment and always makes me feel refreshed.