School: Carnadough (B.), Newtowncashel

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1. Tales of the Famine (continued)

   

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   it. The population has diminished greatly since these times. There were twice as many households in each townland than there is now. In these times the people gave their bits of land for food. The British Government gave free emigration to the Irish. They brought them to America in wooden sailing vessels it used to take them from nine months to land. I have seen bad times myself up to about forty years ago. There were not so bad since anyone who read any of the history of Ireland and think over all the invasions that were in Ireland for the last seven years will say "Its time we should have peace and good will in this Country. And now that that the famine is passed away and over it must be terrifying to see whole families dying, and no one to hand them a drink of water they had nothing better to get. And now after seven hundred and fifty years. Of invasion persecution and suffering. We have lived to see our own Government, ruling our own country. We have to congratulate them on the great efforts they are making to build up this country, they have made great achievements for the last five years; And the people have made a great sacrifice behind them. They are putting up factories of various descriptions. And building houses for the poor people living in hovels and renovating houses for the small farmers after a few years, this country will be well improved with the help of God;

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Tomás Ó Féicin

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Caltragh More, Co. Longford

   Informant

   Michael Sweeney

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Derrygowna, Co. Longford