PICTURES: Roscrea girls sent to Australia during famine remembered

Roscrea’s Kennedy Park residents committee held a commemoration to celebrate the young girls from the now demolished Roscrea Workhouse who were selected to travel on the Pemberton Ship through the Earl Grey Scheme to Australia during the famine in Ireland.

On board the Pemberton there was 208 Irish girls from Tipperary, the largest percentage of orphaned girls from a single county.

On board was Ann Whittaker, who was 18 and was registered as having no parents and she was selected to travel to Australia.

We can only imagine that she was scared and fearful of what her life would be once she stepped of the ship to begin a new life, or if she would even make it of the boat.

She was very lucky as she settled in with a beautiful woman who would look after them. Ann met and married her husband, a lawyer named Stowers, who worked hard to provide for his wife and family and when he died he left her and their children well provided for.

READ NEXT: Knock GAA visit Roscrea ahead of major victory

Four years ago a grandson of Ann, Keith Stowers was walking through the Roscrea estate when a small child stopped to talk to him and Keith noticed the arch at the top of Kennedy Park in the famine memorial garden and started to make enquiries.

Two years ago Keith made contact with Pauline Simmons through email and that is where the story starts.

They started to email and Keith had a lot of questions to ask about the Workhouse and wanting to know where it was and what had the arch to do with it - and so he started to research.

When he made contact with Pauline she was able to answer some of the questions and he heard that when the workhouse was knocked in the early 1990s by the Mid West Health Board the doorway was carefully removed and stored in Thurles.

READ NEXT: Roscrea, Thurles and Templemore District elect new Cathaoirligh

The Health Board promised if a suitable site was found the stone would be returned.

George Cunningham, a local historian, photographed the doorway in situ for the Roscrea People magazine and on seen the photographs Jerry Cahir conceived the idea of using the doorway as a memorial to all those who died during the famine times in Roscrea and in particular those who are buried in the adjacent grave yard.

The chairperson of the development committee, Brigid Feehan, was happy to help organise for the doorway to be placed in the garden adjacent to the grounds of the old workhouse.

Keith decided to travel once again to Roscrea to see the doorway and to bring some information as to how the girls did in Australia.

Emails and arrangements were in full swing between Keith and Pauline and than he gave the date as to when he would arrive.

READ NEXT: 'Roscrea Sky' - the catchy new single by local songsmith Jack Keeshan

So a commemoration event was organised and Keith was asked to share some of the history of his home and grandmother and the girls from the Roscrea Workhouse.

A small gathering was organised - Keith laid a beautiful wreath and the Parish Priest said a few prayers. Thankfully the weather stayed fine and we think Keith enjoyed his visit.

He travelled back to Australia and took back the beautiful memories and the beautiful gifts given to him from so many in Roscrea.

“At 83 Keith was very brave to make this journey on his own and who knows maybe we will meet again. We would like to thank a few people for their help to organise and be present on the day”, the organising committee said.

Keith Stowers for helping to make the day beautiful and for gracing us with his beautiful presence; Fr John Molloy for the prayers ; Michael Smith and Tipperary County Council; Jerry Cahir, Dick and Mary Conroy and Brigid Feehan; Sharon Rowland and the CE Scheme; Jackie Flynn for the baking ; The TUS workers Roman and Vadim for all their hard work in the estate; Davy Monahan for the power and the job he does to keep the estate fab; Michael Kirwan NTDC; Kate Ainè and Ger our community Garda; John O Rourke; Ken Wall; Simon Simmons for the pa system and sound; Con O’Lone, Chairman of Kennedy Park Residents and everyone that gave treats.

“Without all these people we would never have achieved anything - so a huge thank you from us.

“Keith we wish you a safe journey Home with wishes we may meet again we hope you enjoyed your visit and look forward to your continuing friendship and emails,” Kennedy Park residents committee said.