In 1847, during the height of the Great Famine in Ireland, the Choctaw Nation, a Native American tribe in the United States, responded to the international call for aid. Despite having no direct connection to Ireland and still recovering from their own displacement, the Choctaw donated $170, equivalent to approximately $13,445.38 today.

This remarkable act of generosity has forged a lasting bond between the Choctaw Nation and Ireland.


On August 6, the sculpture “The Gift,” created by esteemed American sculptor Brendan O’Neill, was unveiled and installed in the courtyard adjacent to Ireland’s National Famine Museum in Roscommon. The recently renovated museum provides insights into one of the most significant periods in Irish history.

The poignant artwork, measuring 29 inches tall and 41 inches wide, depicts an elderly Choctaw woman and a younger Choctaw man, symbolizing the matriarchal structure of the Choctaw society and the gesture of support and protection. Together, they extend a hand of friendship to the Irish people. The woman holds an ampo (eating bowl), symbolizing sustenance and nourishment.

Reflecting on the inspiration for “The Gift,” O’Neill said: “Given my ancestral ‘O’Neill’ Irish roots and my interest in Native American history and culture, I was naturally struck by the significance of the Choctaw Nation’s gift to the Irish during ‘An Gorta Mór’ in 1847.”

The sculpture in Roscommon is a replica of O’Neill’s original piece displayed at the Choctaw Cultural Centre in Oklahoma.

“I reached out to the Choctaw Elders and offered to commemorate that gift with a bronze sculpture, which I sculpted over a two-year period and delivered to the Choctaw Cultural Centre in September 2023.”

The artist added, “The O’Neill Family is delighted to donate a copy of this sculpture to The Irish Heritage Trust for permanent display at the National Famine Museum in Ireland.”

John O’Driscoll, Irish Heritage Trust General Manager at Strokestown Park & the National Famine Museum, said, “We are honored to receive this historically significant sculpture here in the National Famine Museum.”

He added, “This is a fitting location for this meaningful artwork, offering visitors a space to appreciate the historical bond between the Choctaw Nation and the Irish people before entering the Museum, which offers a deeply moving account of the Great Irish Famine.”