Boston Irish Famine Memorial
The monument consists of two contrasting sets of sculptures. One depicts an impoverished, gaunt family, and the other depicts a well-fed prosperous family. These statues, and the eight commemorative plaques that accompany them, seek to tell the story of the Potato Famine and Irish immigration to America.
The memorial tells the story of both those who suffered and starved in Ireland during the Potato Famine and those who left for America and found success in their new country. Some believe the monument is an offensive memorial to the Famine itself while others interpret the sculptures as a way of honoring the accomplishments of Irish-Americans.
The monument consists of two sets of statues, one depicting a healthy, prosperous family and the other depicting a starving, sickly family. The sickly family wears ragged clothing, and an empty bowl sits beside them on the ground. The healthy family stands up straight, wearing relatively nice casual clothing, typical of members of the working middle class. The statues are enveloped by a memorial "park" that contains some greenery, eight commemorative plaques, and a small wall for visitors to sit on.
