This is the story of the thousands of orphaned girls who travelled to Australia during the Great Irish famine. Its focus is especially on the story of eighteen year old Elisa Fraser from Belfast, as seen through the eyes of her great granddaughter Joan Dwyer. (2001)
This story begins at the Australian Monument to the Great Irish Famine is located at the Hyde Park Barracks, on Macquarie Street, Sydney, Australia. The monument is a tribute to over 4,000 single young women, most of whom were teenagers, who arrived in Australia during the famine.
Over one hundred and fifty years ago, twenty boats left Ireland for Australia carrying orphaned girls. In August 1998, President Mary McAleese laid the foundation stone for this compelling tribute. This is the story of the thousands of girls who travelled to Australia. Its focus is especially on the story of eighteen year old Elisa Fraser from Belfast, as seen through the eyes of her great granddaughter Joan Dwyer.
Producer: Siobhan MacHugh
(First broadcast April 2001)
A Stor Mo Chroí (Fintan Vallely)
A Stor Mo Chroí (Maire Ni Cheileachair)
Donnchadha Bán (Mairéad Ní Oistín)
An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries