Cleveland's Irish Famine Memorial

On the East Bank of the Cuyahoga River, there is a 12-foot high stone Celtic cross. It is tucked away under a bridge, but it serves as a memorial to the Great Irish Famine. It serves as a reminder of a grim period of time in Irish history when the population of Ireland was reduced by 20 to 25 percent.

The famine led to the exile of the Irish as emigrants to America or criminals transported to Australia. For Cleveland, it meant the foundation of Irish immigrants who moved to this area and lived on the banks of the Cuyahoga. The area became known as Irish Bend.