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President Michael D Higgins spoke of the need to address famine across the globe during the National Famine Commemoration at Glasnevin Cemetery.

He noted that even though we now have the capacity to avoid famine - millions of people are suffering from needless starvation.

He said: "We have the capacity to take measures to avoid it and yet we allow nearly a billion people across our world to live in conditions of extreme but avoidable poverty.

He suggested that we create sustainable models that would allow us to "care for those who share with us this fragile planet."

He spoke in front of hundreds who gathered this morning at the cemetery to honour those who died during the tragedy which struck Ireland.

The President led the event along with Minister for Arts, Heather Humphreys.

As part of the ceremony, they unveiled the Famine Cross which will act as a reminder of all those who died in the Great Hunger.

Minister Humphreys said in a statement: "The Famine Cross will stand in Glasnevin as a permanent memorial to the Famine victims, adding to Glasnevin's status as a repository of our history."

(Image: Philip Fitzpatrick Photography)

The Chairman of Glasnevin Trust John Green told RTE that he hopes the cross in Glasnevin will forever remind the world of this astonishing tragedy.

He said: "Hopefully commemoration such as this and memorials such as the cross we unveil here today will ensure that An Gorta Mór, which so brutally shaped our nation through suffering, sacrifice and emigration, will never be forgotten."