The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Famine refugees commemorated
Scot rescued after calling for mayday
A memorial to those who suffered in the Irish and Highland famine in the 19th century has been unveiled in Glasgow.
Glasgow City Council depute leader David McDonald, Irish minister Joe McHugh and historian Professor Sir Tom Devine took part in a dedication ceremony at Glasgow Green yesterday as the memorial garden was opened beside the People’s Palace.
Famine ravaged large parts of Europe in the mid1840s and millions died or were displaced over a number of years.
Ireland suffered badly and it is thought that more than a million people were forced to emigrate – with as many as 100,000 of them arriving in Glasgow.
Thousands also arrived from the Highlands and Islands.
The memorial features plants and stone native to Ireland and the Highlands, and interprets the journey made by refugees.
Mr McDonald said: “This memorial to a defining and desperate episode in Glasgow’s history is a tribute and acknowledgement to those who experienced famine – along with those who followed and helped to build and shape this city and its unique character.”
Mr McHugh said: “A
“Commemorate the historic tragedy of the famine”
large number of those who were forced to leave Ireland came to Glasgow and to the west of Scotland. It is fitting, therefore, that as we commemorate the historic tragedy of the famine, we recall and acknowledge the enormous impact that Irish famine migrants had on Scotland and the positive contribution they and their descendants have made over many decades in shaping the modern city of Glasgow.” 48 hours and much of the time he had deployed a sea anchor to stem the effects.
But HM Coastguard received a distress signal from an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) at 5.30am (BST) approximately 700 nautical miles east of New York.
The Coastguard sent the position information to the US Coastguard.
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The US Coastguard broadcast a mayday relay to nearby vessels in the area to assist, the closest vessel, a cargo carrier, diverted its course and made its way to the rower.
“A fixed-wing aircraft was also sent. At approximately 10.15 this morning the rower was rescued. He is now on board the cargo carrier and reported to be safe and well.”
L a s t w e e k M r Macdonald’s bid was only saved by the ingenuity of the crew of a US Coastguard cutter after his rudder broke.
The USCGC Diligence crew carried out repairs and Mr Macdonald resumed his row.
For freelance broadcaster Mr Macdonald, it was his third go at the North Atlantic row – previously named NY2SY as he planned to go from New York to Stornoway.
He hoped to complete his rowing challenge in three to four months. His first attempt in 2104 ended after nine days.
Mr Macdonald, who lives in Lewis and was born in Inverness, was hoping to raise at least £100,000 for the Scottish Association for Mental Health and to raise awareness of mental health issues, having had his own struggles in the past.
“A cargo carrier, diverted its course and made its way to rower”