Potato Famine Information

CuriousPete

I am looking for 'non typical' potato famine information. Something different or at least a different approach or angle to the potato famine. Any ideas or suggestions would be more than welcome. Tks a mill:eek:

jonniebgood1

Different in what way Pete.
What is this for?

CuriousPete

I am doing an internet project, but every time I look on the internet the same images appear and are repeated over and over again. I am just wondering if anyone could point me in a direction to getting specific or new information that is not already over used. For example how would I know the names of the people who shipped out from cork on the coffin ships (is there a database) or are their archives in Dublin that I can get copies of original letters or are there any images locked away in a vault some where. Please be aware of my newbe status I am not really sure how this whole forum thingy works.

jonniebgood1

Try and find first hand sources as well as general information. There were a number of travel writers who travelled Ireland at the time and some of their work should be availiable free, maybe on google books.

first hand accounts
Quotes from the time

CuriousPete

Tks for your help boss, it will be as good a starting place as any.

Pete

slowburner

Liam Swords' volume, In Their Own Words - the Famine in North Connacht 1845-1849 (1999) is a scholarly work and a great reference point.

http://www.amazon.com/Their-Own-Words-Connacht-1845-1849/dp/1856072479

Nitochris

These two websites might have useful material

http://ied.dippam.ac.uk/
http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/

Poor Uncle Tom

I think it would be much more rewarding if you asked for some direct family heritage, information handed down through the generations and still with us today.

Like, did you know there are some field areas where families either left or died where you can still see the furrows which were planted with potatoes from the time of the great blight?

Like, did you know the great famine lead to a new housing type which was common for evicted families from that era called 'scalp' or 'scalpeen'.

Like, the generations spawned from the recovered families of the great famine era were some of the first mass owners of their own properties.

Like, the current population of the countryside hasn't yet recovered to the pre-famine numbers.

Like, some people survived by taking bounties to bury bodies which littered the countryside to stop the spread of disease.

etc, etc.

slowburner

Like...
we are who we are now, because of this, and not a whole lot else besides.

CuriousPete

Uncle Tom, Thats very interesting, I love the direction you are going. That's exactly what I am looking for.

Pete

Balmed Out

The change in population patterns, why some areas recovered and others havent. Somewhere like West Cork is still miles of its pre famine population, indeed Cork as a whole is about half of what it was.
Maybe the cultural legacy of the famine in relation to attitudes in Ireland towards famine relief.

marieabennett

Hi Curious Pete,

I'm aware a group of Historians in Galway are working on a famine project at the moment. They are the South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society (SEGAHS, see www.facebook.com/SEGAHS) and if you contact them, I know they will help (they even replied to genealogical questions for me).

As for myself, I know from my own research that it differs greatly between county. You're doing Cork? Have you checked the Loan Reproductive Fund (best to do it first-hand in Kew if you can and not just what's available on-line). Have you looked into the agricultural angle too? IMHO the agro / economic aspect (types of crops etc and debt burden etc) need more research.

The very best of luck in your research and you might be good enough to let us know how you get on when you're finished.

Thanks.

Poor Uncle Tom

CuriousPete wrote: »

Uncle Tom, Thats very interesting, I love the direction you are going. That's exactly what I am looking for.

Pete

Sorry, only seeing this message now, how did it go for you?

Jolly Red Giant

CuriousPete wrote: »

For example how would I know the names of the people who shipped out from cork on the coffin ships (is there a database)

Yes - there are several - e.g. (and have a go at using google)

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-description.jsp?s=639&cat=GP44&bc=,sl&col=1002

http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/irishtousa.shtml


http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/passengerurls/index.cfm?fuseaction=ShowListing&StartLetter=A

byhookorbycrook

I did my final year course work on the school in the workhouse in Mallow. I actually got to use the actual minute books of the board of guardians. (That was 1989) I'd imagine that you wouldn't be allowed handle the books so easily now, but you could try http://www.corkarchives.ie/