Many people died and many hardships were endured in this district during the famine years 1845-1847. There are scarcely half the number of people in the townland of Carrickatee now. Many ruins and sites of old houses are still to be seen here and there through the country.

Before the failure of the potato crop black spots began to appear on the people. This was called the "Black Fever." The disease immediately vanished off the people and it is said that it then affected the potato-crop because when this crop failed black spots were seen on them.Farmers