Background
Griffin was born and raised on the Martin estate in Connemara, being a native of Corindulla, near Ross.
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Celia Griffin
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Career
The family were badly hit by the famine, and in February 1847 walked the thirty miles to Galway in search of relief. "However, many city dwellers shunned these refugees arriving amongst them, a situation born more out of fear of contacting disease rather than selfishness or indifference."
However, more and more people arrived each day, and the Institute could not feed them all. What became of Griffin"s parents is unknown.
Attempts by the nuns to save her failed and she died as a result of the effects of starvation.
An inquest into her death was held on Thursday 11 March 1847. On the 4 July 2012 the Galway Famine Ship Memorial was dedicated at the Celia Griffin Memorial Park at Grattan Beach, Galway.
According to the Galway Independent, "The unveiling of the monument will be Galway’s tribute to Celia Griffin and the many thousands of children like her who perished in the Famine, and also to the ships and crews which carried so many of our people to safety.. Celia Griffin has come to symbolise all the children who lost their lives in the Great Famine.".
