School: Cill Thiomáin, Durrus, Bantry (roll number 15989)

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1. The Famine

   

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   The famine years lasted from 1845 to 1847. In this district the people had plenty of corn but they had to export it to England to pay the rent and the potato crop failed. The potato was their principal food for breakfast dinner and supper. Lots of them died of hunger and the fever came all over the county and swept[?] them in hundreds. There were men hired for carrying them to the nearest burial ground which was [?] They had a special car for that purpose. They called it a bogey car This man carried nine or ten at the time and dug a big hole and covered them over without any coffin There was then a relief sent from England to all Parish priest and ministers. In this parish the the minister took hold of the clothes that were sent and some of the poor Catholics died of hunger before they would take anything from the Protestants and others took the clothes and turned Protestant. Mr Fisher was[?] the minister of this parish and also the landlord of Toormore and Gorttyowen. He got the clothes and distributed them to anyone that went to the Protestant church on Sunday. Many Catholics availed of this offer and they were called "soupers or turncoats" The Bishop became angry and he sent a very strict priest to the parish. His name was Fr. Holland. He gave very harsh sermons to the people and we are told that when Mr Fisher got up on Monday mornings he found lots of

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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

   Eileen O' Driscoll

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Kilcomane, Co. Cork