School: St John of God Convent, Rathdowney (roll number 16203)
- Location:
- Rathdowney, Co. Laois
- Teacher: The Sisters
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0828, Page 231
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- Famine '47 + '48
In the years preceeding the Famine, the staple food of the Irish peasantry consisted of potatoes Those above mentioned years produced such a large crop of potatoes that the people did not trouble to bring them in from the fields; (a repetition of the Famine and plenty of Bible story)
In '47 the potatoes completely failed thus depriving the people of their principal food. Not only this, but no seed potatoes were available for the following year '48, consequently a general want was felt throughout the land, hunger stalked the way. Historians tell us that four millions died of starvation, cholera + fever brought on by semi starvation also reigned amongst the people An old man (Mr Guilfoyle told my Father (John Costigan) that he remembered the famine in '47 when most of the respectable farmers of Errill district were obliged to call to the meal-house where the shop of Mrs Quigley now stands, and take home a bucket full of cooked Indian meal for their family(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Sadie Costigan
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 17
