A powerful bronze sculpture has been unveiled at St. Patrick's Community Hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland, commemorating over 100 young Irish women who were forced to leave their homeland during the Great Famine. The memorial honors 60 girls from the Carrick workhouse and 45 from Mohill who were shipped to Australia between 1849 and 1851 under the notorious Earl Grey Scheme.
These young women, many just children aged 14 to 19, were among the most vulnerable members of Irish society during one of the country's darkest periods. They were torn from Ireland's overcrowded workhouses and sent across the world to help populate a male-dominated Australian colony where men outnumbered women eight to one. Most of these girls would never see their homeland again.
The Earl Grey Scheme was a government-sponsored emigration program that affected more than 4,100 Irish girls from all 32 counties. The initiative was conceived by Henry George Grey, the 3rd Earl Grey, whose name remains familiar today through the bergamot-infused black tea that bears his title. As Britain's colonial secretary, Grey designed the program as what officials considered a practical solution to two problems: relieving Ireland's overcrowded workhouses while addressing Australia's severe shortage of women.
The bronze sculpture, created by local artist Donnacha Treacy, was commissioned by the Carrick-on-Shannon Heritage Group and funded through the 2025 LEADER Programme. The memorial stands at St. Patrick's Community Hospital, which was once the original Carrick workhouse from which many of the girls departed. Additionally, a commemorative plaque was installed at the Famine Memorial Garden to honor all those who perished during An Gorta Mór, the Great Hunger.
John Bredin, chair of the Carrick-on-Shannon Heritage Group, emphasized the memorial's purpose in restoring dignity to these forgotten young women. "Sixty girls from Carrick workhouse and forty-five from Mohill were taken from here to Australia," he explained. "They were some of the most vulnerable in society, yet they carried incredible courage. This sculpture gives them faces again, reminding us that they are not forgotten."
The girls selected for emigration were typically poor, orphaned, or abandoned, but were deemed healthy enough to survive the arduous ocean journey on what became known as famine ships. Upon arrival in Sydney, they underwent inspection and were housed in immigration facilities like the Hyde Park Barracks before being quickly dispatched to work as domestic servants, farm laborers, or eventually as wives to help populate the colony.
For sculptor Donnacha Treacy, whose works have been exhibited at prestigious venues including the Royal Hibernian Academy and the Royal Dublin Society, capturing the complex emotions of these young women presented a unique artistic challenge. "These girls were leaving everything behind," Treacy reflected. "I wanted their faces to show both fear and strength – the weight of loss, but also the spark of survival."
While some of the emigrated women eventually established stable lives and families in Australia, many others endured significant hardship, prejudice, and profound loneliness in a land they never chose to call home. The scheme represented what British officials viewed as an efficient solution that would transform destitute Irish girls into Australia's future mothers at no cost to the British taxpayer.
The unveiling ceremony brought together local officials, community members, and descendants, creating a moment of remembrance for these young women whose stories had largely been forgotten by history. Joseph Gilhooly, CEO of Leitrim County Council, attended the ceremony, underscoring the significance of preserving this important chapter of Irish emigration history.
The memorial now serves as both a reminder of Ireland's most devastating period and a lasting tribute to Leitrim's lost daughters. These young women, sent away as famine orphans during a time of national crisis, are now remembered permanently in bronze, ensuring their courage and sacrifice will not be lost to future generations.
