Doolough Valley Famine Memorial

A trip to Doolough Valley is a special experience. Nestled between the Mweelrea mountains and the Sheefry hills are two lakes that the Wild Atlantic Way winds along.

At the northern end of the valley is a cross built in memory of the victims of the “Doolough Tragedy”.

During the Great Famine in 1849, many desperate inhabitants from Louisburgh set off on foot in search of food from the authorities at Delphi Lodge. However, their pleas were rejected and they were turned away.

On their return journey across the valley, many poor souls perished from hunger and exposure to frost. A yearly walk is held along the route in memory of those that died and the cross serves as a stark reminder of one of the most tragic periods in Irish history.