Poverty Before the Famine: County Clare 1835 [Hardcover]

Book Description

Publication Date: 1997

Poverty in County Clare in the 1830s is vividly portrayed in this publication. The information on which it is based has been extracted from one of the reports of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Conditions of the Poorer Classes in Ireland which was set up in 1833. The Commission engaged Assistant Commissioners to collect evidence on the causes of Ireland's massive poverty from a variety of witnesses in one parish in every barony. These witnesses included clergymen, beggars, farmers, labourers, landlords and tradesmen. Their evidence, given at first hand, is now, for the first time, made accessible to the general public by CLASP PRESS.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For those interested in Clare's pre-Famine heritage, this publication is a must -- The Clare Champion, Nov. 29, 1996

From the Publisher

The first publication from CLASP PRESS County Clare A History and Topography gave people a pre-Famine snapshot of Clare. However one would have to point out that it portrayed the Establishment view with scant regard for the day to day struggle of the ordinary poor. We now present the other view and illustrate the reality of the plight of the ordinary labourer and peasant in County Clare in the 1830's. Expect to be shocked at the extent of the incredible poverty suffered by many and the appalling lack of response from the Establishment.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 169 pages
• Publisher: Clare Local Studies Project (CLASP Press); 1 Ed edition (1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1900545012
• ISBN-13: 978-1900545013
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,652,346 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poverty Before the Famine,County Clare in 1835, November 20, 2000

By 

DANIEL HAWLEY (CHULA VISTA, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poverty Before the Famine: County Clare 1835 (Hardcover)

The title of this book is in part deceiving in that one might assume this area of Ireland was not yet suffering from famine conditions. The conditions described are probably what most people would envision occurring during the famine. Interesting and informative first hand accounts of life in this era are given by an apparent unbiased cross-section of society, Reports, opinions,and views are provided from the parishes of Abbey, Oughtmanagh, Kildysart, Kilfarboy, Kilferagh, Killaloe, Kilmanaheen, Kilnaboy,Tomfinloe, Kilnasullagh, Kilmaleary, and Drumline, The information provided is generally first hand accounts of social conditions, such as how widows, grandparents, vagrants, and illegitimate children lived and were treated. While this is a niche subject this book would be of interest both to people having roots in County Clare and the casual reader,although the later would probably find their interest satisfied after a couple of chapters. Each chapter discusses the conditions in a particular parish of which each is in part some what similar to other parishes. This book is not a novel but it is also not just a book of dry history,it is a story of local life told by the people living it. One would have to be lucky to find specific information on an ancestor in this book, however, if a relative emigrated during this period numerous clues to the reasons for the move can be found.