School: Mayne (roll number 12433)

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1. Famine Times

   

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   This was told me by my grandmother, Mrs Edwards, residing at Kilgolagh, Finea, Streete, Co. Westmeath. She was told it by her mother, Mrs Whyte. She is dead now.
   Before the famine the county around Finea was very thickly populated. Where the fields are now on both sides of the road were little huts which would not be fit for pigs. When the potato crop failed the poor people who were living in these huts had no other food as their gardens would only hold enough potatoes without other vegetables. The farmers who had enough land for oats and wheat as well as other vegetables gave all they could spare to the poor. There was a certain plant which grew in the ground and the poor people would dig it and wash it and eat it to keep them alive but the majority were dying in the ditches.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. time
      1. historical periods by name (~25)
         1. the great famine (~4,013)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Joyce Stratford

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Finnea, Co. Westmeath

   Informant

   Mrs Edwards

   Relation

   Grandparent

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Kilgolagh, Co. Cavan