Mr. Jim Callery, founder of the Irish National Famine Museum and Archive and owner of Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, has won a major EU prize for cultural heritage.
Mr. Callery is among this year’s winners in the 2017 EU/Europa Nostra Awards in the category-dedicated service to heritage and the only winner from Ireland.
Independent expert juries examined a total of 202 applications, submitted by organisations and individuals from 39 countries across Europe, and chose the winners.
The winners will be honoured during a high-profile event on 15th of May at St. Michael’s Church in Turku, Finland.
Deputy Eugene Murphy says the award is a fitting tribute to Mr. Callery.
“Over the past forty years Jim has spent millions of his own money, along with help from European Union funds, on restoring the house and gardens, as well as creating a museum to the Irish Famine and an archive of the estate documents which number over 55,000 items.
“It truly is a remarkable achievement as the restoration and establishment of the world renowned Irish National Famine Museum & Archive has been the largest act of private philanthropy for cultural heritage in the history of modern Ireland” Deputy Murphy added.
