On the famine Trail

Whilst the golfers went off for another day…I read a book and ‘pottered’ around the place, finishing a book by Pete McArthy ‘McCarthy's Bar’..about his trips to Ireland, and seeking out his roots whilst visiting any and every bar called after him that he could find ! – very humorous and interesting, especially since a lot of the places he visited were ones I’ve either just visited myself, or intend to before going home !

Then late afternoon Anthony dropped me and neighbour Michael down at the Fr Peyton Centre, to join in the planned ‘Famine Walk, and talk 'commemorating the great famine in 1847, when the population of the area was decimated by hunger,disease…and as still now.. emigration

The event started with Sean Reynolds, an accomplished historian reading a poem describing some of the events that we were to commemorate.. then off into the afternoon drizzle, which quickly turned to rain, such a shame as it had been fine all day.. however we all sped along up towards the distant graveyard at Bunnifinglass.. firstly going through the forest at the end of our lane at Ballycong ,out onto the road, and across and into the graveyard, a walk of perhaps 3 miles- the reason we walked this way, was it was an old ‘cut through’ from the church to the cemetery, and would have been used in the famine to bring the bodies from the church (although most never got to church) with tales of surviving relatives being so weakened with hunger, that the bodies were left in ditches along the way…

At the back of the graveyard (the oldest in the area), where it was believed the first Attymass church existed , was an area, believed to be where many famine victims from both here and the ‘workhouse’ at Ballina were buried in mass graves . How many ? –it’s not known possibly hundreds all that remains are scattered stones on the ground, most wouldn’t have had any memorial (or indeed coffin ). There is a commemoration plaque there, and we gathered around the graves whilst the Parish Priest Fr Mulligan led the rosary, and then Sean gave a further talk of the famine times, suffering and population decline… clearly affected by the facts, it was very moving..

I also managed to find the graves of My Grandmother and Grandfather interred along with 3 of my uncles and aunts…home again !

Then , we all went across to the pub(again)  for Refreshments of tea,sandwiches and lots of cake !

We later walked back through the forest to home,not in time for that evenings ‘Seisun’ at the Peyton centre Sean and Anthony having already gone… however in time to relax in front of the peat fire, with a welcome visit from my cousin Padraic’s  wife Geraldine and her two boys, although I’ve seen them a few times since coming here, we’ve never really had time to chat..

When she left it was time for bed, although unbeknowns to me the brothers had gone to the pub after the ‘Seisun’ making sure I wasn’t ‘trapped there’ !!

A safe Goodnight all !