Mayo Alive - 4 June
1996
Mayo Abbey 1845 - 1850
by
Damien Barrett
First Printed in Mainistir Mhuigheo, Mayo Parish Magazine'95
The following extracts are contemporary accounts from the Connacht Telegraph (then titled the Telegraph or Connacht Ranger). The first realisations of impending famine did not occur until the latter period of 1845. Subsequent disasters were faithfully recorded in the pages of the Telegraph. Even today, the details remain undiminished in their power to shock. They provide a graphic reminder that the history of this period is founded on the fates of ordinary people, ancestors and neighbours, our own selves in another era.
Unfortunately the area of Mayo Abbey was under-represented as regards detailed coverage. It did not command as high a public profile as other areas such as Balla, Ballinrobe, Castlebar, Westport and Louisburgh, which possessed vociferous and literate witnesses such as members of the local clergy, or humanitarian gentry, who recorded their observations and outrage in letters to the local papers. In contrast the area of Mayo Abbey did not appear to possess such vocal luminaries. The Parish Priest, Fr. John Jennings, was stirred on just one occasion to write of his indignation at the plight of his parishioners, although he was involved in campaigning by the clergy of the Deanery of Castlebar. The Parish Priest in Balla, Fr. Browne, on the other hand, was a frequent critic of the establishment, and campaigned vigorously for additional relief to be made available to the starving population. During this period, Roslee was part of Balla parish, (it did not revert to the control of Mayo Abbey until the early 1860s.)
During the period under review the Telegraph was edited by its founder, Frederick Cavendish, which ensured that the paper was usually at the centre of controversy. Cavendish, a member of a wealthy and respected family, was a real thorn in the side of the establishment. He proved a trenchant critic of Government policy as regards Ireland, and the paper served as a flagwaver for the campaign for Repeal of the Union. Closer to home he reserved some of his most scornful outpourings for the merciless land clearance policies of the local landowners and their agents, Lord Lucan and Sir Roger Palmer being amongst his chief targets. The Telegraph was in the vanguard of reporting the realities of the Famine. Unlike its contemporary rival, The Mayo Constitution, it was a sympathethic ally to the populace whilst maintaining a clear preference for the upkeep of civil order.
Mayo Chapel
The Rev. J.Jennings, P.P.,acknowledges to have recieved from M. MacDonnell, Esq. the sum of £29 3s., recieved by the late Archbishop Kelly from sundry Irish residents in London, besides Mr.MacDonnell's own subscription of £1, towards defraying the expenses of this interesting edifice now in progress, and one much required in that locality.
June 4th, 1845
Apprehended Riot at The Roman Catholic Chapel at
Balla
A strong contingent of the constabulary of this time, under the command of Mr. Jackson, Sub Inspector, and another detachment under command of Mr. Singleton, S.I. of Claremorris, proceeded at an early hour on Sunday morning to preserve the peace between two powerful and numerous factions of the peasantry of the parishes of Mayo and Balla, who premeditated a fight at the chapel of Balla. The peasantry gathered in at 12 o' clock, in large crowds, and several of the women were observed to be carrying the bludgeons for the men under their cloaks. From the vigilant police arrangements, under Mr. Jackson's superintendence, the parties separated at about three o'clock, without having come into collision. Several tremendous ferruled sticks were taken up by the priests, and handed over to the police.
The Mayo Constitution January
13th, 1846
Mayo and Balla Relief Committee
A meeting of the Balla and Mayo Relief Committee was held on Saturday, the 21st of November, at the Police Barrack, Balla. Members of the Committee present; - Sir Robert Lynch Blosse, Baronet, Chairman , Capt. Fitzmaurice, J.P., Edward Blake, Esq., J.P., Henry Waldron, Esq., J.P. , Rev. Dr. Browne, P.P. ,Balla, and Rev. Mr. Jennings, P.P., Mayo, Mr. Barrett, Secretary.
The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to; Resolved - That application be made to the Lord Lieutenant to convene a Presentment Sessions for the Barony of Clanmorris, for the purpose of having works of a useful and reproductive nature presented for, such as Draining, Sub-soiling etc.; Resolved - That the Committee earnestly request the Landlords in this Barony to avail themselves of those presentment sessions, to have works of a reproductive nature immediately set on foot, and that they will lose no time in having the necessary plans and estimates prepared; Resolved - That the foregoing resolutions be published in the Castlebar newspapers.
November 21st 1846
Balla And Mayo Relief Committee
We refer to the resolution adopted by the Balla and Mayo Relief Committee, at their meeting held on the 21st instant at which Sir Robert Lynch Blosse, Bart., presided. The resolutions entered into on that occasion will insure a sufficient employment for the starving poor of that district, if the landlords adopt those measures which the committee recommend. This is the only relief committee in the country that has taken the necessary steps under Mr. Labouchere's letter, to procure employment for the poor. Very great praise is due to Sir Robert Lynch Blosse, for the course adopted by the Balla and Mayo Relief Committee. We should hope that other committees will follow this excellent example. If they do not, let the Clergy, and others interested for the poor, apply by memorial to the Lord Lieutenant to convene Extraordinary Sessions to agree to provide reproductive works, which if not done, the great majority of those in distress will remain unemployed.
November 25th 1846
To the Editor of the Mayo Telegraph
Dear Sir, - I hasten to inform you that during the last week three persons died of actual starvation in this Parish. My curates are toil-worn by their unwearied exertions to minister to the spiritual and temporal wants of the destitute poor in this locality. Any language I am master of cannot adequately convey to you the heart-rending scenes we are compelled to witness. The greater part of the people are wretchedly clad, and almost every poor man possessed of a cow is selling her to purchase a month's provisions for his family. But this, I suppose, is in accordance with the doctrine of Political Economy. Famine is to sweep away thousands - the earth is to be made desolate - the poor man's resources are to be entirely exhausted, and food is then offered to him for sale when he has no earthly means to purchase it.
Never, indeed, in the eventful and unhappy history of
Ireland has there been a crisis so pregnant as the present -
none from which more disastrous consequences are likely to
flow.- No traces of cultivation are as yet to be seen in
this famine-stricken county, and unless immediate steps are
taken by the Government and Landlords to purchase seed for
the poorer tenants, and prepare the soil for receiving it,
the ensuing year will be far more memorable than the
present. I send you a circular which Sir Compton Domville
has addressed to his tenants in Mayo, and, from your anxiety
to better the condition of the humbler classes of society, I
trust you will give it a place in the next number of your
independent Journal. There is not in Ireland a more
indulgent Landlord, or one that has taken more pains to
improve his tenants; and his efficient and benevolent agent,
Mr. Sherrard, is indefatigable in his endeavour to carry out
the benevolent intentions of this excellent Landlord. He has
never impounded the tenant's cattle for rent, and whatever
improvement is made by the tenant, either in draining,
fencing, or subsoiling, his land will ensure for him not
only full and adequate compensation, but also the respect
and esteem of this worthy Baronet. If Ireland had hitherto
possessed such proprietors, her resources would have been
more fully developed, and her many qualitites, which now lie
dormant, would have been called into active exercise, and
productive of inumberable blessings to this country, which
is so temperate in her climate, and, up to the present awful
visitation, was so fruitful in her fields.
I have the honor, dear Sir, to remain,
Faithfully yours,
MARTIN BROWNE, P.P. of Balla,
County Mayo.
P.S:- The names of the persons who died of starvation are Michael Connelly, of Cappah; Mary Murphy, of Carrakeel; Michael Moore, of Lecarrough; and, since writing the above, I have been credibly informed that a beggarwoman died of want at Cornamonaster.
February 17th, 1847
Destitution
Catherine Coen, from Castle Lucas, an evicted tenant for the last six months, sought admission for herself and her six orphans into the workhouse on Saturday. She was in attendance five consecutive board days, and has, as yet, got no admission from their high mightiness, tho' ordered by one of the staff to attend. The poor woman and her orphans are now begging about the streets. Such is a sample of the merciful working of the Poor Law system.
January 19th, 1848
More Deaths from Starvations
The electoral divisions of Balla and Drum, in Mayo, are rivalling Skibbereen for deaths through starvation! Last week we gave the weekly list of famine victims in Drum electoral division, where one man remained unburied for seven days for want of a coffin. This week we have been supplied by a friend from Balla with the following list of persons found dead on Saturday morning last in Balla electoral division, who have been, as our informant states, starved to death, before relief was extended to them - in other words - they were so exhausted when they got the food, they could not make use of it:- Dominick Moran, of Bunbee, parish of Balla. Patt Mullen, of Bunbee - twice supplied with food - but a skeleton before he got it. Mary Thomas, of Cregg, in the same parish - twice supplied with food.
The famine of last year committed awful havoc among the poor in this county - but from existing appearances - this year will complete the work of death.
February 9th, 1848
Within the last week no less than ten persons have died of starvation in the electoral divisions of Balla and Drum, Union of Castlebar.
Mayo, April 8th, 1848
To the Hon. Frederick Cavendish
Hon. Sir - I send you the names of the poor people whose
houses had been tumbled down in this parish last week by Mr.
Kirwan's drivers. First, the drivers names are Garret Nally,
William Connor, and Tony Cannican. Portagh - Widow Martin, 6
in family; Michael Naughten, 2 ditto; John Naughten, 4
ditto; Ned Gannon, 3 ditto; Martin Carr, 7 ditto; Widow
McAndrew, 7 ditto; Widow Henery, 6 ditto; David Lavelle, 9
ditto; Pat Carrigan, 3 ditto; Daniel Hopkins, 7 ditto;
Frehene - Bryan Killeen, 5 in family; John Shaughnessy, 3
ditto; Widow Killeen, 6 dito; Widow Naterville, 3 ditto;
Widow Quinn, 3 ditto; Harefield - Widow Prendergast, 5 in
family; Pat Flatley, 3 ditto; Newpark - Orphans, Deacy, 3 in
family; Gurtpontane - Pat Flanagan, 8 in family; Mossbrooke
- Orphans Murray, 4 in family; Widow Killeen, 5 ditto; Acres
- Widow Nolan, 3 in family.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your humble
servant,
JOHN JENNINGS.
(P.P Mayo Abbey )
Mayo, April 29, 1848
Savage Outrage
On Friday last at an early hour, Counsellor White, accompanied by three bailiffs from Castlebar, on two post cars, preceeded to the neighbourhood of Ballyglass, to execute decrees for rent obtained by him at the suit of the late Lord Clanmorris. The bailiffs of the learned gentleman succeeded in making some seizures, whereupon a mob of between two and three hundred country people rushed upon them and effected a rescue. They then attacked Mr.White and his men with stones and other missiles, nor did they stay their brutal work until they left the learned gentleman for dead on the road. His head is shockingly lacerated with stone wounds: his body, arms, and thighs, are bruised and blackened to a horrible degree. They afterwards opened his port mantua and took out all his papers which they destroyed, among which were some money orders and bank cheques of much value. The learned gentleman now lies at the residence of the Rev. Mr. Green, Protestant Minister, Mayo, where he is attended by Dr. Browne of Balla, and where he is visited by the gentry of the neighbourhood, who deeply commiserate with him on the unfortunate event which had well nigh deprived him of existence.
We understand informations have been sworn against the prinicpal ringleaders, who are well known to the cardrivers and bailiffs, and we doubt not ample justice shall soon overtake them. From our personal knowledge of the learned gentleman, we can vouch that in society there does not exist a more gentle, inoffensive, or humane man, or one who could with more reluctance undertake the duty he (in his capacity of trustee on the Clanmorris estates) went to discharge. We are happy to learn his recovery, under the skilful treatment of Doctor Browne, may be soon looked for.
We would recommend the authorities to either increase the number of Constabulary at Ballyglass, Balla, and Balcarra, or else to establish a Police station at Mayo. Had there been a few Policemen present on Friday last the valuable life of Mr. White would not have been endangered.
May 3rd, 1848
To the Honourable Frederick Cavendish
Dear Sir- We are reaping the sad and bitter fruits of the Poor Law, which is swelling the grievance it was intended to have redressed. Amidst the afflicting scenes which I am daily witnessing, I could not remain silent without betraying a criminal apathy for the suffering, and privations to which the famishing poor are subject by the payment of the rate under their present trying circumstances. I am prepared to prove, and fearlessly challenge contradiction, that the greater number of persons from whom this obnoxious impost has been extracted in this famine stricken locality, are already in a state bordering on actual starvation, not having a month's provision, having parted with almost the last rag,during the three years of unexampled distress, in order to procure subsistence. You may picture to yourself the state of despair and frenzy into which they were thrown upon seeing their last and only remnant of property wrung from them.
In future these impoverished cess- payers must be applicable for relief, and thus the circle of destitution will be increasing to such a fearful and alarming extent as to entail utter ruin on the country, by endangering the safety of all property. In no part of Ireland is the tax so harshly or so vexatiously levied as in this electoral division. The usual terms of law have been disregarded - due notices have not been served: nay, persons not rated have been put to the heavy expense of releasing their cattle forcibly taken from them. In my mind the Poor-rate Collector is an irresponsible person, as the poor thus treated possess not the means of having their wrongs vindicated and exposed in a court of justice.
On last Wednesday I was called on to administer the consolations of religion to James Reilly, residing in the townland of Ballynagran, who was dangerously wounded, under the following fearful circumstances:- I am informed that by law he was not liable to pay rate; still his stack of oats was seized, and on Tuesday night he contrived to bring the oats into his house. One of the baliffs employed by the Poor Rate Collector gave the alarm to the Balla police force, brought four of them with him at the hour of six o clock in the morning, without a magistrates warrant, and, in forcing open the door, a severe wound was inflicted by this baliff on Reilly, from the effects of which his death is hourly expected. Should this melancholy event take place, he will leave a broken- hearted widow and three helpless children to deplore his death!!
It strikes me that petitions ought to be forwarded from
every parish in Ireland, respectfully calling on Parliament
to remedy the grievances growing out of the system of Poor
Laws - for in the event of its being continued in the
present honorous and complicated state, industry will
increase in the inverse ratio of the means to relieve -
capital and skill will depart from our shores- the peace of
our country will be endangered, for no laws, however
stringent, will compel a starving population to pay such an
impost in its anomalous and oppressive form.
I have the honour to remain, dear Sir,
Your obedient and humble servant,
MARTIN BROWNE, P.P. of Balla.
P.S. It appears passing strange that the proprietors in this electoral division have not as yet been called on to pay the rate. Pray, does the law direct the collector to pursue the course of sparing the rich and harassing the poor.
September 1848
Frauds Detected and Punished
At the Ballyglass petty -sessions, on the 27th ultimo, Mr. J. M.. Sheridan, inspector of weights and measures, brought the following case before the presiding Magistrates, V. O. Connor Blake and Myles O Donnell, Esqrs,:-
J. M. Sheridan, inspector of weights and measures, v. Geo. Browne, relieving officer for the electoral districts of Mayo and Burriscarra, for using a fraudulent machine in the distribution of meal to the recipients of outdoor relief, at Ballyglass, on the 24th May last. Mr. Sheridan, being sworn, stated that he came unnoticed to the meal store, where he found the assistant of the relieving officer using the weighing machine now produced, that by it each recipient must have been cheated by seven and a half ounces of the quantity he ought to recieve, by means of the scoop or scale wherin the meal was put to be weighed being so much heavier than the opposite scale; that he saw it used in the same state that he now exhibited it for the inspection of the magistrates. Mr. Sheridan stated, if the issue for both electoral divisions were 8,000 - which he believed to be under the number- the recipients must have defrauded weekly of 33cwt. 1qr. 30lbs, or thereabouts, which if sold at £10 per ton, would bring £16 14s 10d. in addition to the salary allowed to the relieving officer!!! Mr. Sheridan stated that Browne, the relieving officer , was not present when he detected his assistant, Pat Kelly, using the fraudulent weighing machine; that he heard and believes that the relieving officer entrusted the entire distribution to this assistant, who is one of his connections, and who was also summoned by Mr. Sheridan.
The magistrates concluded their opinion, that a more flagrant case of fraud never came under their observation, and were it not that Mr. Sheridan stated that there could not be a possibility of the relieving officer (who it appears had been recently appointed) knowing this fraud to be carried to such an extent, they would inflict the highest penalty sanctioned by law. - Browne was convicted in the penalty of £1, or in default of payment, one months imprisonment in the gaol of Castlebar: Kelly, his assistant, was also convicted in a similiar amount, or, in default of payment, one months imprisonment. The magistrates cautioned the relieving officer against continuing Kelly in his employment, and said the greatest praise was due to Mr. Sheridan for his efficency in detecting such gross fraud, and punishing the culpable parties, thereby protecting the poor in general, and particulary the poor, from such scandulous and disgraceful impositions.
The Nallys of Rockstown in County Mayo, Ireland
