Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-08
TIvIug In

Statement Of Father Kelly oil D0nesal-I
have been trying for years to un,
derstand how the holders OF small
patches Of poor, rugged land here IN
fhe mountains Of Donegal, as in so
many other Western counties, could
nos IDLY manage to exist on the pro-
dnee Of these so-called farms. The
famine 1880 came, and it solved the
nroblem which sixteen years expert
ence. with all the intimate knowledge
Of the ways and means of the people
that an Irish missionary priest must
possess, could not explain. l need not
pnote from official documents the vast
number of these holders in Donegal,
and all down the West coast OF Ire
land generally. The money value OF
ali products on this class Of holdings
could not average over Els sterling per
year (S75). l take the parish OF Glen
columbkille, and will tell you what l
learned, from my experience as parish
nriest and honorable secretary OF the
chief committee during the late dis
tress.
was connected with two Of these
committees. In Glencolumbkiile there
d a population of 800 families. vi
these 700 we're on our reliof lists al
most from the beginning OF the dis
tress. and on to the end OF 1t. -Four
hundred families had nothing, abso.
lutely nothing, but what the relief
committees were able to give them,
This was seven pounds OF Indian
meal per head per week, at a cost OF 3
pence. / farthing; Gl.29a year. The
people all said il they had goG hall al
mueh more, ten and a hall pounds
costing lad, it would be as much a
they could use, Of usually did use
lhis would be equivalent to FL 1876
per year per individual. Taking fou
and a halt individuals as the averag
family. We find that 81 1863 repre-
sents the full value Of meals IN time
Of plenty, per family.
Next. what Of the necessaries 0
life? | have said hal 400 familie
lived during the distress Of 1850 70
the sever or eight months on the sevs
or eight pounds of Indian NEIL pt
head Der week. They had no earthl
way Of getting anything else. Yet nj
one of them died of semi starvation
nor did they seem TO be worse than
other times. They did their usu
work when the season came round II
e~ultiyating their little holdings.
So much for the year Of iamln
What now. in theyoaF OF plenty, Is Il
normal condition Of these people?
have said that, on their own shown
ten and a half pounds of Indian me
would be ample allowance for 4
family all round, and Indian meal
usually the sole food OF the class l
writing about, or potatoes when th
have them. which are worth about t
same money. They have no COW, al
rule. and consequently they enj
milk only occasionally in the SUNNI
when it is plentiful with the odd O
among them who has q GOV and {
sell or barter a little milk 10 less I
tunate %neighbors.
Add two or three pounds sterling
the year for Iuxuries (sp. ounce OF
bacco in the week for the man Of
house and the balance for the {
tea generally without milk and
have the total average expenditure
the keep" Of thousands upon thI
sands Of Irish peasants ia the year:
Add again el for clothing agai
each member of the family all rou
G4.lO, and you have the entire qnn
expenditure as accurately as my kno
edge and experience enable me
make it ont. The grand total
9l2363. Perhaps you would
me to 20 into the item Of elnthir
little more in detail. Well, the \
Of the house eau have a pair OF
4 a couple of shirts, a pair Of
duroy pants and o second hand
for clio, and. that accomplished,
rest is not so difficult to provide.
children and their mother do
wear shoes, and their calico aud "
On garments arc plain and seanty
he last degree. OF bed clotbirs
not speak, for there is nothing to 81
about.