School: Court (roll number 13335)

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1. The Famine Days

   

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   The Famine Days.

   The famine was the terrible event that took place in 1846 - 1847 when the people died in hundreds. The people around the district usually lived on potatoes until the blight came in 1845. There is only about one - sixth of the population in the County Wexford now as were in it before the famine. The blight spread quickly and after a while the whole crop failed. The people used go out through the fields and gather the wild weeds and eat them. Many died of disease. They also used to eat raw turnips. The people were watching with anxious hope for the new crop but it failed. When the mothers returned with their little bags on their backs the children were delighted. The people can point out to-day the houses in which the people lived during the famine. After the famine a great sickness came called famine fever and many died from this fever. In 1847 the potato crop failed all over the district. All the roads were thronged with dead and dying. All the corn was sent out of the country and the cattle were sent to England and other countries.
   The potatoes rotted in the grounds and some in the pits. But at last the government began to give relief measures.There was money sent from America and other countries. The people were very grateful for this. There was money sent over from England to sow the next year.

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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

   Mollie Lacey

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Courtballyedmond, Co. Wexford