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The Great Famine of Ireland
One of the most appalling bits of history we learned about in Ireland was the potato famine. England appears to have tried mightily to decimate the population of Ireland. Any Irish who practiced Catholicism—the majority of Ireland’s native population—were initially prohibited from owning or leasing land, voting or holding elected office under the so-called Penal Laws. Catholics had their land taken by the British and could not be employed or educated or practice their faith. The potato crop on which they relied for income and food was wiped out by disease two years in a row. As a result, as many as 1 million Irish men, women and children perished during the Famine, and another 1 to 2 million emigrated from the island to escape poverty and starvation.
Pictured below is the famine graveyard in County Donegal, one of many mass graves of victims of the Great Famine.
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| Croagh Patrick, viewed from the National Famine Monument |
Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick - (Saint) "Patrick's stack" in English - is a mountain 764 m (2,507 ft) high in County Mayo, Ireland. According to Wikipedia:
Archaeologists found that there had been a stone chapel or oratory on the summit since the 5th century. There is reference to a "Teampall Phádraig" (Patrick's Temple) from AD 824... A small modern chapel was built on the summit and dedicated on 20 July 1905. On the last Sunday in July, thousands of pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick in honour of Saint Patrick, and masses are held at the summit chapel. Some pilgrims climb the mountain barefoot, as an act of penance. Traditionally, pilgrims would perform 'rounding rituals', in which they pray while walking sunwise around features on the mountain. Among these are a group of three ancient cairns known as Reilig Mhuire (Mary's graveyard), which are likely Bronze Age burial cairns.
We caught glimpses of Croagh Patrick when the entire mountain was visible but weather changed, giving us very different views. The mountain's appearance also changed dramatically depending on the angle or distance from which we viewed it.
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| The tiny little bump at the top of the mountain is the chapel. The only way to reach it is on foot, a hike that takes several hours at a minimum. |
Mullaghmore - a beautiful village in County Sligo
Last week I shared a glimpse of Lord Mountbatten's castle. This week we travel to Mullaghmore, a short drive down the road, ang catch a glimpse of the harbor where Mountbatten's fishing boat was destroyed by an IRA bomb as he left port. Mountbatten, his grandson, and a village boy were killed and four others were seriously injured. The event is considered to be a turning point in The Troubles.
Just opposite the harbor where Mountbatten met his end is a shot where they prepare the most amazing ice cream I've ever had. We simply couldn't resist!
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| Our driver and guide kindly treated us and relaxed a bit while we finished our treats. If you travel to Ireland and have the opportunity to try a "99", please don't decline! |
A distant view of Cassiebawn Castle Mountbatten in County Sligo
Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, commonly known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British statesman, Royal Navy officer and close relative of the British royal family. He had a long and varied career and usually summered at Cassiebawn Castle. His pro-Royalist stance drew the ire of the Irish Republican Army, and he and several family members and neighbors were killed by an IRA bomb as they maneuvered their boat out of port to go fishing. His castle is not open to the public, but these photos show the guardhouse at the entry to the property and a short distance down the road the castle itself can be seen in the distance.
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