When 24 families left Connemara, near Galway, in 1880 to flee the ravages of famine, they knew little about their destination to the U. S. Midwest.  They arrived with gaunt faces and few items of clothing, hoping for a much-improved life.  But controversy afflicted them in Graceville, Minnesota and their misery continued until they settle in St. Paul.  Theirs is an immigrant story that speaks of hardship, determination and hope.

Speaker: Jane Kennedy

Jane Kennedy lives in St. Paul, MN. Her interest in exploring Irish famines is linked to her family’s emigration in the 1880s from County Mayo, Ireland. She has a B.A. in English and Journalism from St. Catherine University and an M.A. in Business Communications from the University of St. Thomas. An adjunct professor at St. Cloud State University, Kennedy enjoys researching Irish history and sharing her findings.