School: Monreagh (roll number 7143)
- Location:
- Monreagh, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: R. J. James
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1105, Page 94
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- XML “Famine Time”
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- The government and some of the farmers who could spare any gave a handful of meal to the poor people. The meal was given out at certain places, one place near St. Johnston called Drumenon. At that time wages were 4s per day and your food or without food it was 6s per day. The beggars got a badge to show or wear. They had to show this badge at every house they went to. The farmers always gave the beggars a handful of meal or three potatoes. The famine potatoes were called cups. After the famine came a very bad potato called Prince Regent it was a soft watery potato and Ballygawley Pinks. The government gave money to the landlords to give to the farmers to employ poor people who had no work. These labourers drained and reclaimed the farms.
- Collector
- Emily Wray
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 14
- Address
- Derrymore, Co. Donegal
- Informant
- Mr James Brown
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 92
- Address
- Greenhills, Co. Donegal
