Attymass in North Mayo holds a particularly significant place in Ireland’s Great Famine story, with parish records noting some of the earliest documented Famine-related deaths in the country on 19 November 1846. This early record highlights the immediate and devastating impact of the Famine in rural western communities, where already vulnerable populations were pushed into extreme hardship.
Bearna na gCorp – The “Gap of the Bodies” Route
The parish is also closely associated with the historic Bearna na gCorp (“Gap of the Bodies”) route, a local pathway linked to famine-era burials at Bonnifinglas Graveyard. This route remains an important part of the area’s heritage landscape and is still remembered through community-led walks and commemorations led by the Attymass History and Heritage Group.
Attymass’s Famine heritage is also deeply connected to wider emigration stories and the global Irish diaspora. The legacy of the Famine is reflected in the movement of people from rural Mayo to Britain, North America, and beyond, as communities were reshaped by loss and departure during and after the Great Famine.
Irish Hunger Memorial – From Carradoogan to Battery Park
A powerful example of this global connection is the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City, New York, where a traditional stone-built farmhouse from Carradoogan, Attymass forms a central feature of the memorial. The cottage, which predates the Famine, was donated by brothers Tom and Chris Slack, carefully dismantled, and transported to New York, where it was reconstructed in a deliberately preserved, partially ruined form to reflect the devastation of the Famine period.
From Bofield to Battery
The memorial was designed to represent the Irish landscape and the experience of famine, emigration, and survival, and carries a strong North Mayo connection. Local involvement in its creation included the Bofield Céilí Band, who performed at the official dedication ceremony in 2002, and narration contributions from Chris Slack, who has a direct personal link to the cottage. The memorial was officially opened in the presence of international dignitaries, including President Mary McAleese, and continues to stand as a powerful symbol of Irish emigration and global remembrance.
Mayo’s Famine Legacy and the Irish Diaspora
Across Mayo and the west of Ireland, the Famine led to dramatic population loss through death and emigration, with many parishes experiencing long-term social and economic change. Attymass remains a place where these themes are still actively remembered through local heritage work, storytelling, and community initiatives.
Today, this landscape continues to serve as a place of reflection and remembrance within the wider Mayo North heritage offering, connecting visitors and locals alike to the lived experience and lasting legacy of the Great Famine.
Discover More about Attymass
Discover more about Attymass here, and discover The Father Peyton Memorial Centre, Attymass which commemorates Father Patrick Peyton, the “Rosary Priest”.
For places to stay, the Father Peyton Centre offer accommodation, as too does the fabulous Hillcrest Farmhouse in Attymass.
