School: Ballyharry (roll number 11235)
- Location:
- Ballycharry, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: Seosamh Mac Giolla Bríde
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1123, Page 536
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- XML School: Ballyharry
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- XML “The Famine”
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- Many stories are told about the great famine. It is said that people peeled the rotten potatoes and eat them and were glad to get them too. The evil results of the famine appeared after, for there were twice as many people in this district before it came. About fifteen houses were shut up not long after famine.
The potato crop was the chief crop around here and when it failed the famine started. It is said that the blight came very unexpectedly. A story is told that one evening when the farmers were coming from the bog they saw the Glen Hills disappearing in a dense fog. Some said it was a sign of heat, while others said it was a sign of rain. Anyhow they passed no more remarks, but when they arose next morning and saw the early potatoes a black colour they knew it was the blight. As they did not know about spraying then they could do nothing. The potatoes(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Grace Mc Daid
- Gender
- Female
- Informant
- Edward Mc Daid
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 70
- Occupation
- Farmer
- Address
- Ballycharry, Co. Donegal
