School: Clonmellon (B.) (roll number 9500)

Location:: Ráistín, Co. na hIarmhí
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Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0725, Page 068

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Old Forts (continued)

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forts are in view of each other.

Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
History Edit
The Famine

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The Famine occurred in 1847 or as the old people called it afterwards "Black '47". In 1846 the potato crop was very plentiful, so plentiful that the people emptied them into the dykes in Spring. They were thought to be worthless. Then in the following year 1847 a big change came. The entire crop of potatoes failed. They became very scarce. The wheat crop, too, got affected with a disease known as Smut. It was unfit food. The people had to turn on rye, and black bread. It was the chief food. Few people could buy it and the result was that many people died of hunger. The Government gave food. This consisted of porridge made from maize meal. The food in this locality was cooked in the Market House in a very large pot (still to be seen). Then the Government opened up what was known as the Public Works. This work consisted of sinking the little rivers and digging the hills out of the road. This sinking of the hills on the roads can still be seen. In 1848 the Government gave free seed potatoes, a very good variety called the "Scotch Downs" till the blight rotted them and then came the "Champions"
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Topics
1. gníomhaíochtaí
  gníomhaíochtaí sóisialta (~7)
  siamsaíocht agus caitheamh aimsire (~5,933)
Language

English
Collector
Michael Mc Mahon
Gender

Male

Informant
Tom Carty
Gender

Male
Address

Ráistín, Co. na hIarmhí