This is a two-part project: 

Part 1: to compose a poem, giving a snapshot of one person’s life before emigrating from Co. Laois, as a result of the Great Famine. 

Part Two: to create a large art-piece, giving a visual representation of emigrants at a local heritage landmark.

There is strong general local knowledge of the canal, that once ran under Blackhorse Bridge in Portarlington, Co. Laois, but there is no reference to the greater, historical value of the bridge, in relation to it being a vital route for people emigrating during the Famine.  Emigrants travelled by foot along the canal route and aboard specifically-designed 'fly-boats', which were lighter than canal barges and were designed to travel quicker, to carry the streams of people emigrating from the Famine. This site will be inspiration for the project, "I Once Walked There".

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.