Holocaust survivor leads Famine 1848 Walk in Tipperary

Survived concentration camp on equivalent of six crackers at day

Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental spoke graphically about the realities of starvation at the weekend Famine 1848 Walk in Ballingarry, south Tipperary, at which he was leader. File Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental spoke graphically about the realities of starvation at the weekend Famine 1848 Walk in Ballingarry, south Tipperary, at which he was leader. File Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental spoke graphically about the realities of starvation at the weekend Famine 1848 Walk in Ballingarry, south Tipperary, at which he was leader.

In Ireland since 1959, he recalled being detained with his mother and brother at the Bergen Belsen concentration camp in 1944.

“I know all about hunger. I know all about scavenging for a crust of bread . . . the degradation that comes with the constant ache of an empty stomach,” he said.

He also recalled the huge effort by Jewish people to help the starving Irish during the Famine.

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry is a contributor to The Irish Times