School: Sliabh na Lice, Sráid na Cathrach

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1. Drochshaol - Gorta (continued)

   

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   In the years previous to the failure of the Potato crop planting of potatoes did not start until the month of May and continued on until the end of the next month June.

   The usual method of sowing was as follows. First the upper surface or "Scraith" was stripped off the would be potato garden. This was carefully dried heaped up and burned. The ash was scattered over the ground to act as manure. Ridges were then made. Holes were then made in the ridges with a stick and the seeds were inserted in these holes. The ridges were then beaten down with a shovel.

   At times though rarely the seeds were scattered in a somewhat similar manner to the present day method of scattering oats seeds.

   When the stalks had reached a good growth, the farmer went through the garden and cut a goodly amount of them with an old scythe by way of thinning the rich foliage, so as to allow air to the stems.

   In the year of the famine the potatoes blackened in the ground and later in the pits. The English government paid high prices for the corn so that much more of the corn was sold in the earlier stages then was necessary for the actual wants of the farmers. The demands of the landlord could have been met quite easily and a far greater amount could have been stored for home consumption. To make matters worse a fair percentage of this money went into the pockets of shopkeepers to supply "style" for the farmers wives and daughters.

   A story is told of one Daniel Garrihy of Beenvione (?), Moughna, Ennistymon. This man had a beautiful field of corn. He was asked by a neighbour to have the corn cut and threshed, and sold out to help the poor. His answer to this request

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Languages

   Irish

   English

   Informant

   Thomas King

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   80

   Address

   Tooreen, Co. Clare