IGHMF Introduces The 1847 Fund
​​Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield (IGHMF) is proud to announce the launch of "The 1847 Fund”, a new approach to fundraising befitting the cultural and historical value of “The Great Hunger Collection.”
Obviously, 1847 is a reference what became known as Black ’47, generally considered the worst year of The Great Hunger - when death tolls began to mount, hunger related diseases like typhus and relapsing fever took hold,and mass emigration, often forced, increased dramatically.
In fact, by end of this May in 1847, forty Coffin Ships lay at anchor, lined up for miles in the St. Laurence River, awaiting inspection at Grosse Isle quarantine station. On board were some 12,500 Irish men, woman and children hoping to gain entrance to Canada via the port of Quebec.
Today we would call them refugees, not from a famine, for there was no famine in Ireland at this time. There was, however a failure, of a single crop, the pervasive lumper potato on which much of the island’s population survived. Those aboard those coffin ships and countless others like them, were refugees not from a natural disaster, but from a socio-economic calamity, created and left unchecked bytheir fellow man, through legislation, economic policies and attitudes all of which favored not the masses, but a privileged few.
So why would IGHMF name a fundraising campaign after the darkest point in Irish
history? The answer to that is simple: 1847 also speaks to the resilience of the Irish
people - those who survived and lived on in the place of their birth. But also, those who
would find themselves in Canada, America, Australia or England - far from home, but
maintaining a connection to Ireland.
The Great Hunger Collection speaks to all such survivors and their descendants. And in
a sense, this priceless collection belongs to every one of us, worldwide, with Irish
heritage. It teaches us all, about an essential component of our own story; how our ancestors not only survived but flourished and we came to be where we find ourselves today. The 1847 Fund, therefore, targets not just Connecticut, New England or even the United States, but everywhere that mass 19th century Irish immigration remains evident today.
One should consider The 1847 Fund, an over-arching umbrella, encompassing all forms of the future museum’s fundraising activities and tying them together.
Within The 1847 Fund, will be roughly a dozen lifetime donation tiers. Each supporters past and future contributions, be that in the form of donations, event sponsorships or paid advertising, will count toward their lifetime giving total, tabulated just before opening of the new museum. At each level, donors will be recognized for their total contribution, with benefits ranging a frameable certificate
acknowledging their support, up to and including long term naming rights for a small portion of the new museum.
This new approach provides ample opportunity for individuals along with organizations and businesses of all sizes to contribute at a level and time which is appropriate for them - without ever losing their supporter status.
At this stage, we seek long term strategic partners to help us complete our mission.
These include universities, philanthropic & cultural organizations, state & federal grant programs federal grants, as well as grants available worldwide via the Irish government. And of course, we appreciate the continued support of the collection’s current owner, Quinnipiac University, the Gaelic American Club and all individuals who share our vision.
Our executive board and steering committee, all of us volunteers, are united by two
principles: 1) We believe in the artistic, historical, cultural and educational value of The Great Hunger Collection and the opportunities it offers to both learn from our past and improve our future; and 2) We remain committed to resurrecting The
Great Hunger Museum and doing that here in Fairfield.
In the coming weeks you will begin to see “The 1847 Fund” name in the press and
social media and we do hope you will join us and support our mission!