School: Ballynarry
- Location:
- Ballynarry, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: E. Mac Gabhann
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0989, Page 023
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- XML School: Ballynarry
- XML Page 023
- XML “My Townland”
- XML “The Famine”
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- Sheamus Smyth
- Gender
- Male
- The great Irish famine occurred in the years 46-47. It was caused by the blight that destroyed the potato crop in the summer of '45 and again in '46. About one million people died from hunger, or of disease which came from the famine. The Irish people's main food had been potatoes, so that instead of potatoes they had to kill the donkeys that served them on their little farms and eat them. Priests, after going on their rounds all day administering Extreme Unction often, themselves went without supper to bed. A brave Protestant minister took off his shirt and put is on a fever patient. The famine also caused a great emigration to America. According to the Irish history the record number of deaths on the ships that were carrying the eimigrants were ÷ The "Larch" had 440, and 108 died; The "Queen" had 473 and 137 died; The "Avon" had 552 and 236 died; and it is said that one ship carrying 600 less than one houndred survived.
