School: Cnoc an Éin Fhinn (Birdhill) (roll number 13991)

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1. The Famine Times

   

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   The years 1846 - 47 & 48 were tragic years in Ireland. People died by the roadside in thousands. Others died by the ditch and in old houses and in several cases they were eaten by rats and dogs. The Government of the day looked on callous. They said that it was the easiest way to exterminate the Irish race. It was said that it was a vengance from God that the famine came because the people treated the food badly the previous years. The potatoes were so plentiful that the people healed them up in carts against the ditch and did not cover them from the frost or snow. The famine continued for almost five years.
   Some humane British having heard of the sad plight of the poorer Irish decided on starting public works and building soup schools where food was distributed. The real poorer class were given course Indian meal which was made into sturabout and eaten with water and in some cases milk.
   The next thing that started was a plague which was a dreadful disease. People died like flies by the roadside. Some people were buried immediately after death and otehrs were not buried for often a week after death. Several people were buried coffinless. The

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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

   Thomas Teefey

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Coosane, Co. Tipperary

   Informant

   Michael Teefey

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   54

   Occupation

   Railway worker

   Address

   Coosane, Co. Tipperary