The Project

The San Francisco Irish Great Famine Memorial Plaza will be built in two phases.  The first phase focuses on the plaza itself; the second will add commissioned artwork and expanded interpretation.

 Phase 1 will create a concrete platform along El Camino Del Mar, adjacent to the 17th tee of Lincoln Park Golf course. The design calls for a concrete platform extending 16 feet into the golf course buffer zone and spanning 20 feet along the roadway. The top edge of the concrete plaza will be inlaid with tablets describing the Famine and the legacy of the survivors, turning the overlook into an outdoor gallery of history and reflection. Lighting and landscaping will complete a contemplative space that is safe, accessible, and welcoming.

Phase 2 will focus on the artistic and interpretive elements that will elevate the plaza into a complete memorial. In partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission, the project will commission a statue or sculpture that speaks to the themes of loss, resilience, and gratitude at the heart of the Famine story. This second phase will be financed through a dedicated follow‑on campaign, giving donors options to support both the foundational site and the artwork that will crown it.

The project has already cleared key civic hurdles. The Board of Supervisors has endorsed the memorial and designated the site. The Recreation and Park Commission has approved the concept and recommended acceptance of donations. Committee Chair Pat Uniacke predicts that once construction begins, the plaza can be completed and open within six months to a year, depending on fundraising and construction logistics.

As plans and renderings have circulated, visitors at Lincoln Park have reacted with enthusiasm, calling the memorial “a gorgeous overlook and a great way to honor the ancestors.” Project leaders believe that when finished this will be the most picturesque and evocative site of an Irish memorial anywhere in America. 

Your support will help ensure that this important story is remembered and celebrated for generations to come. The memorial will not only honor the past but also strengthen the bonds between Ireland and San Francisco, reminding us of the enduring spirit of those who sought a better life in this city.