Annals of the Famine in Ireland, in 1847, 1848, and 1849

Asenath Nicholson

Annals of the Famine in Ireland

1851

Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN EDITION

CHAPTER I

Object of the work—General Remarks on the Condition of Ireland before the Famine—Coachman's reasons for Murder—Difficulties of writing a correct work on Ireland—Position of the writer, &c.

CHAPTER II

Cup of Trembling—Irish Housekeeping—Indian Meal—First News of the Famine—Kind Judge—First Starving Person, and Means of Preserving him—Unexpected Assistance from New York—Joseph Bewley—Soup-shop—Manner of carrying Bread through the Street—Cook-street Labors in Dublin—Central Relief Committee in Dublin—Amount of Moneys—God's Promises and Dealings

CHAPTER III

Stewards—Meal from New York—Sacks, and Government Arrangements for Distribution of Meal—Donation from Pauper Children of New York—Convent—Going to Belfast—Doings of the Women there—Hirelings and Voluntaries—Hon. William Butler—William Bennett—Mrs. Hewitson—Visits to George Hill—Patrick M'Kye's Letter

CHAPTER IV

George Hill's Movements and Success—Facts of Gweedore—Visit to Dungloe and Arranmore—Mr. Griffith—Sports of Children gone—Roshine Lodge—Return to Belfast by Derry—Visit to Antrim—A Cave—Return to Dublin—Journey to Connaught—Mistake in Character of a Starving Man—Misery at Newport—Orphan Boy—Abraham and Sara—Sara's Bed and Burial—Death and Burial of Abraham—Drinking Habits—Moderate Drinking Clergy

CHAPTER V

The Sound—Tour to Belmullet—Landlords—Tenantry—Walk on the Sea-coast—Burying-ground—Shipwrecked Sailors' Burial—Manner of Burying the Starving—Soldiers of Belmullet—Appearance of the People—Passport—Mr. Carey—Samuel Bourne—The Girl of the Mountain—Miss Wilson—Return to Belmullet—Scene of the Cattle Drivers, and Courage of a Boy—Letter to a London Friend—Return to the Sound—Dreadful Storm—Drowning of Fishermen—Reading with Servants—Achill—Bad Management of Grants—Disposition of Children

CHAPTER VI

Poorhouses, Turnips, and Black Bread

CHAPTER VII

Newport—Pulling down Houses—Mr. Pounding—Gildea—Burial at Newport—Molly Maguires, &c.—Rebellion of 1848—Croy Lodge and Ballina—The Self-denying Child—Hunting, and Habits of a Hunting Lady—Visit to Ballina—Hospitality of Peter Kelly—Character of Mr. Kincaid—Captain Short, and the people in general—Leaving the Town—Stop at Ponton and Arrival at Castlebar—Trial for Murder—The Feelings of the Jury—Patrick's Day—Widow Fitzgerald—Visit to Partra—Balinrobe—Sense in the Mountains—Old Parish Priest—Visit to Balinrobe—To Cong—Industry of the Curate—Visit to Balinrobe Workhouse—Old Head—Distress there—Louisburgh—Excursion to the Killery Mountains, &c.—Excursion to Adelphia—Incidents—Good Landlady—Shepherds—Romantic Scenery—Return—Rockery—Adieu—West Port and Castlebar—Soup-Shops—Soyer's Soup—Journey to Tuam—Children in the Convent—Happy Results—Sad Treatment on a Car—Arrival at Cork—Description of Cove and Cork—Scenery up the Lee—Deaths in the Famine—Blarney—Castlemartyr—Potato Blast—Spike Island—The Mathew Tower—Letters

CHAPTER VIII

Grave of Charles Wolfe—Water Cure—Friend's Funeral—Leaving Cork—Passage to Dublin—New Trials there—Reflections on Past Labors, &c.

CHAPTER IX

Last Look of Ireland—Summing Up—Landlords—Clergymen—Relief Officers—Going out of Ireland

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An American widow’s account of her travels in Ireland in 1844–45 on the eve of the Great Famine:

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