School: Liath-Mhuine

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1. Famine Times (continued)

   

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   There are ruins of some of these poor peoples' dwellings to be seen up to this day in the district and in many other parts of Ireland, out of which these poor people were evicted by the Landlords because they were unable to pay their rent.

   They used to sell the grain crop but some of them when they saw hunger approaching kept the grain and made meal out of it for the support of their family and themselves then there was nothing left to pay the rent and they were turned out of their homes on the roadside.

   The population was then about eight and half millions and we can imagine the numerous crowds of people there were then to be fed besides nowadays. The Americans sent over a ship load of Indian corn but it was not much use to the starving people here as they were so weak when help reached here. They killed their cattle, sheep, and horses, and dogs. They also ate turnips while they lasted and when they were used, all of them who were within possible reach of the sea gathered (-) but to their great misfortune they had not enough of them.

   When deaths occurred so numerously they were unable to bring them all to the graveyard and the greatest part of them were buried in the fences. Their relations were unable to carry them to the grave. They had not the conveniences we have nowadays when we have hearses, and horses and cars to carry our dead to the grave.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. am
      1. tréimhsí staire sonracha (~25)
         1. an gorta mór (~4,013)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Charles Gibson

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ráth Lao, Co. Shligigh