Wreaths and flowers were laid at the Famine Memorial in Dublin yesterday by a group campaigning for an annual commemoration day dedicated to the thousands of victims.
The group of people dressed in similar robes to those of the figures in the memorial at the IFSC walked through the city centre. They then laid flowers at the foot of each statue.
Michael Blanch of the Committee for the Commemoration of Irish Famine Victims said they were lobbying for a memorial day to honour, remember and give dignity to the victims and the emigrants who gave so much to the world.
"We want to give recognition to all those who died in the Irish Famine so that they are gone but not forgotten," he said.
Opposition parties and unions had backed them, he said, and he thought the Government was warming to the idea. "This is to commemorate victims on the island of Ireland. Catholics, Protestants, male, female, old and young all suffered together so we should all remember together," he said.
They wanted a day for remembrance, Mr Blanch said.