School: Kilmessan (B.) (roll number 4210)
- Location:
- Kilmessan, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Brian S. Pléimeann
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0691, Page 103
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- XML School: Kilmessan (B.)
- XML Page 103
- XML “The Famine”
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- Many stories are told of black '47 in the district. In the year 1845 the potato crop began to fail. The following year half the crops failed and in 1847 there were no potatoes at all. They had all rotted in the clay. People lay dying in ditches along the roadside for a fever raged through the country. The people were in terror or touching their dying friends for fear they would take the disease. Wild birds ravenous with the hunger pecked the eyes out of the afflicted people who were dying outside. People in this district walked long distances to get meal. They could not get any although the granaries were full the millers would not sell any meal. They thought that the famine was going to last for several years.Seed potatoes were got from other countries at very dear prices.(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Patrick Gorman
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Crumpstown or Marshallstown, Co. Meath
- Informant
- Christopher Gorman
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Crumpstown or Marshallstown, Co. Meath
