Moycullen During the Famine
Reflections on National Famine Commemoration Day 2019
Mark McNally & Tara de Renzy
Introduction
The Great Famine (1845 -1849) was a devastating and seminal moment in Irish history when the horrors of mass starvation, disease, and emigration tore through the country. The most severely affected areas were the west and south of Ireland with Connaught having a population drop of up to 30% from 1841-51.
The causal factors leading to this catastrophe included sectarian laws, landlords, tenants, evictions and potato blight and have been teased out and discussed in numerous books and articles through the decades and are too broad a topic to do justice to in this article. The function of this article is to give a glimpse into life in the parish of Moycullen during this awful time.
Moycullen during the famine
Overview
In 1841, the barony of Moycullen consisted of the whole of the parishes of Moycullen, Kilannin and Oughterard (Kilcummin) and part of the parish of Rahoon. The parish of Moycullen consisted mainly of tenant farmers.
Based on a review of the 1841 census with respect to the barony of Moycullen:
- Approximately 5000 families lived in the area
- Approximately 4000 were chiefly occupied in farming or agriculture
- Approximately 90% of the people depended on manual labour for their living
- Approximately 50% of the population of the barony lived in a 4th class house – in essence a stone cabin with no windows.
The parish of Moycullen, as common in the west of Ireland, suffered greatly during the famine. Starvation, disease, eviction and emigration decimated the community. Here are a few statistics illustrating the devastating impact on townlands and population of the parish of Moycullen: (census figures 1841/ 51)
- Ballydotia had a population of 162 in 1841, decreasing to 91 by 1851
- Clydagh had a population of 260 in 1841 decreasing to 43 by 1851
- Drimcong had a population of 20 in 1841 decreasing to 5 by 1851
- Gortyloughlin had a population of 119 in 1841 decreasing to 66 by 1851
- Knockshanbally had a population of 127 in 1841 decreasing to 8 by 1851
- Uggool had a population of 138 in 1841 decreasing to 66 by 1851
Landlords in Moycullen during the famine
In terms of the parish of Moycullen during this period, land and wealth was firmly in the hands of a few landlords:
- George P. Burke, Danesfield Moycullen. Burke was a member of the board of guardians for the Galway Union, of which Moycullen was part of, during the famine. The board had responsibility for the administration of the Galway Workhouse and auxiliary workhouses and hospitals within the union. He was also a poor rate payer. Elizabeth Burke, Countess of Fingal and daughter of George Burke, wrote in her book “70 years young” about the famine, commenting that “My father remembered the last famine…. People dropping by the roadside on their way to the Big House…coffin ships going out from Galway Bay ….. the smell in the air that foretold the blight”.
- Anthony O Flaherty, Knockbane, Moycullen. O’Flaherty acted as the chairman of the Galway Board of Guardians during the period marking the famine.
- Kilkelly, Drimcong, Moycullen- held five townlands in the parish and barony of Moycullen at the time of the famine.
- Browne, Corcullen, Moycullen, held one townland in the parish and barony of Moycullen during the famine.
All of these landlords would have contributed to the administration of local relief committees or at public meetings called to provide relief works for the poor.
Specific mentions of Moycullen during the famine
PATRICK FAHY – PP MOYCULLEN 1840-48
The suffering of the peoples of Moycullen has been documented in several sources including the diaries of Fr. Patrick Fahy, the parish priest in Moycullen between 1840-48. In his letters he gives a harrowing account of the progression of the famine in the parish, for example in a letter dated the 26th October 1845 he says “…harvest is abundant as far as grain is concerned but fears nay starvation on account of a rot dreaded in the potato crop..”, in an August 1846 diary entry Fr Fahy states “…a blight has come on the potato crops….” and further in a November 1846 entry “…the parishioners are in an alarming state about the ensuing spring, not having any seed to put in the ground…”. Another diary entry in January 1847 states “There was a coroners inquest held in Clooniffe on a poor woman found dead; verdict, died of starvation.” In October 1847, Fr Fahy wrote that “….300 people had died of famine and its consequences….”. His last letter entry in May 1848 he states “About 12 a week die, I don’t know the end of it. The mortality is frightful”. He died himself that same year at 48 years of age.
FR FRANCIS KENNY, PP MOYCULLEN 1848-97
Fr Kenny became parish priest in the Moycullen in 1848 following the death of Fr Fahy. He was a consistent advocate of the poor throughout the years of the famine with several examples of him appealing to the authorities to provide relief for the famine stricken in the area.
The following is taken from the “Report on the meeting for Law Guardians” (Dec 1847):
“The Rev Kenny addressed the board at some length on the state of the district with which he was connected. He represented its poverty in glowing terms and concluded by imploring of The Guardians in the name of charity, in the name of humanity and justice to provide some extra accommodation for the famine stricken poor of his, as well as every other pauperised district within the union….. the committee was therefore provided to provide accommodation and an auxiliary workhouse for this purpose.”
Treasa McMahon tells the story of Fr Kenny “anointing 19 people at the roadside… and later witnessing the struggles of a dying man outside the churchgate..” in her article in the Moycullen Historical Society (now Moycullen Heritage) publication “An Gorta Mór I Maighcuilinn” published in 1997 .
The Moycullen fever hospital – Mount St Joseph’s
Moycullen Fever Hospital, one of many temporary hospitals opened in rural areas, opened in September 1847, in response to the fever epidemic sweeping the area and the inability of the main fever hospital in Galway to cope with the numbers. The hospital had a capacity for 50 patients and employed two nurses and one ward maid. 510 patients were treated with 88 dying during its 25 month existence as a Fever Hospital. The Hospital was converted in 1849 to house orphans, becoming known as the Moycullen Auxiliary Workhouse, closing in 1851.
The schools in Moycullen
The main school in Moycullen was built in 1835 on the grounds of the current National school. National schools in Baile Nua (1836) and Knockbane followed. It is known that Moycullen school served as a centre to distribute food during the famine.
Rocks Road famine relief
Pre-famine maps indicate that the Rocks Road as we know it today was a dirt type track up to the 1840’s. Upgrades to the condition of the track probably took place as part of a famine relief work scheme. There are clear links to our famine past across this landscape. On the right hand side of the trail in the wooded area near Cloonabinna there are the remains of a famine village as well as a Famine relief wall acting as a boundary wall for the quarry located at the Ballynahallia end of the Rocks Road. This Famine wall was built by local men employed by landlords or church groups to give employment and income to the impoverished and starving community. Some boundary walls are still evident on the limestone landscape which may have been the only refuge of post eviction victims at this time.
Moycullen Heritage opened a formal heritage trail along the Rocks Road called “The Rocks Road- Mini Burren Trail” in 2018 in order to highlight the history, ecology and geology of the area including the points noted regarding our famine history. The trail sign is located at the GAA pitch near the turn off to the Rocks Road.
Famine graves
People died in their hundreds in the parish of Moycullen during the famine. There are several famine graveyards around the parish including a small site at Cnoc Na gcarranai above Mount St Josephs on the Spiddal road. It is believed that a famine graveyard is also located in the present graveyard in Moycullen church grounds.
Moycullen Heritage commemorates the famine
Moycullen heritage have made famine related content available here on our website and through publications such as the now out of print “An Gorta Mór I Maighcuilinn” published in 1997. In marking famine commemoration 2019, we are pleased to make freely accessible for viewing here a scanned copy of that book. We have also put heritage trail signs at locations such as Mount St. Joseph and Aras Uilinn with famine related information. Our group has reclaimed a famine pot (located at Aras Uilinn) and were involved in the production of a famine memorial plaque and noting that there is a famine grave in the grounds of the church in Moycullen.
Conclusion
A note taken from the Coleraine Chronicle dated 20th February 1847:
“Galway – …. “There are nearly four hundred human beings in this district, consisting of widows, orphans and aged and infirm persons, male and female, totally destitute, …., three of these poor creatures died during the last week of starvation.” The Rev. Mr. Phew earnestly solicits the means of alleviating the privations of the suffering poor of Moycullen”
We hope that this article has given you a little insight into what Moycullen was like during this horrendous time.
Comments about this page
So interesting to read of the effects of the Famine where some of my Irish ancestors lived. Also so poignant to read of the efforts of the clergy to alleviate their suffering. God Rest those brave people who did their best to help in those awful times.
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