School: Taobh na Cruaiche (roll number 4494)

Location:
Teevenacroaghy, Co. Mayo
Teacher:
N. Ní Mhóráin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0138, Page 313

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0138, Page 313

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  3. XML “Composition - Famine Times”

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  1. The Great Famine of 1846 and '47 is remembered by all the old people of this district and there are many stories told about it. The district was very densely populated before the famine.
    There were about twice as many dwellings in each village as there are to-day and there are ruins of houses still to be seen.
    The people had never seen blight before until that and they did not know any way of preventing it but in the following year the potatoes were extra good.
    When the potatoes had failed the Government provided the people with Indian meal and sometimes the people caused the cattle to bleed. There is a story told of a family of Heratys who lived in Tiernacrogha and whom famine did not affect so much. Many people came to them with small wooden tubs for some Indian meal and blood. Some people ate grass and they were found dead along the roadsides with the grass and weeds between their teeth.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. time
      1. historical periods by name (~25)
        1. the great famine (~4,013)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Mary Mc Greal
    Gender
    Female
    Informant
    Michael Mc Greal
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Fahburren, Co. Mayo