Jim Callery, the founder of the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park and of Westward Garage, is currently walking the entire 165km National Famine Way in remembrance of Strokestown’s missing 1,490 famine emigrants.
He started at the Trailhead at Strokestown Park House on Wednesday, September 25, and plans to finish up at the EPIC Emigration Museum at Dublin’s Docklands on Tuesday, October 15, his 90th birthday.
Jim will have friends and family joining him along the way with funds going to current day immigration issues.
“I remember back in the 1930s, Ireland was a very, very, very different place then. I had five kids, one died at six months old and I’ve eight grandchildren. I’ve four great grandchildren and we’re expecting another in November,” he said.
“I want to raise money for immigrants, this is a social problem. The problem in Ireland, in my opinion, is that we were an emigrant nation for 200 years. We had no knowledge of immigration coming into Ireland.
“We’re not prepared or didn’t expect immigration and it is a very complex situation. 90pc of those people who are coming are genuine people and are deserving.
“Go back and look at the treatment we got between 1847 and and 1950. I remember the 40s and 50s after the war, we weren’t welcome anywhere.
“We have gone down the list of immigrant charities in the Community Foundation of Ireland. They will give to local enterprises, local shows, local events, local St Vincent de Paul, it’s all for local efforts,” he added.
Mr Callery is a week on the road now and even though there’s been a few bumps in his journey, he’s adamant about not giving up.
“I’m in Mullingar now. The last few days were lovely. The first day within 20kms, it wasn’t good. We ran into all sorts of problems,” he said.
“The next day was horrific, the rain and the wind. I said to myself, ‘I’m going to give up’, but then my grandson rang me and said he’d join me on the walk the next day. That was a beautiful day.
“The first two days were tough. We’re ahead of ourselves at the moment. But I don’t want to put the strain on myself.
“I don’t want presents from my siblings, children, grandchildren, or anything; the only present I want is for people to put money in the fund.”
You can find out more about Jim’s fundraiser here.
