School: Ballinakill (C.) (roll number 896)

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1. The Famine in Ballinakill

   

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   Signs of the famine came in 1845, 1847 all the crops failed especially the potatoes. The cattle were heard miles away roaring for the want of grass of fodder. It lasted for about four years. Very few had much provision of plenty of money. The situation became so bad that people and cattle were starving. After a long time the government built relief houses about thirty miles distant from each one where they gave the poor people yellow meal porridge. It was the first time it was imported from South American. Emigration started in 48 to America. Families went in sailing boats which took ten months to make the voyage many of whom died on the journey. The public works were started in the end of the year 1848. They consisted of making roads through the country. Those who got employment were paid four pence a day and those who were lucky to have education were made gangers. They got sixpence. For the little

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Kathleen Moran

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballinakill, Co. Laois

   Informant

   Mrs J. Moran

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   48

   Address

   Ballinakill, Co. Laois