In the eyes of Imperial social engineers, the Famine orphans were young marriageable women who would bring a stabilizing influence to a rough masculine colonial society. Continue reading
Filed under Great Famine …
An Unfortunate Life: Rose Flemming, Irish Famine Orphan
Rosanna was typical of the Irish famine orphans. McClaughlin’s research shows that on average they married at 19 years, most to older men within three years of landing, and had nine children Continue reading
Famine Amnesia
By Frank O’Shea The word ‘amnesia’ was heard several times at the Famine round table in the Williamstown Town Hall on October 28. It was used to describe the way that Ireland seemed to have forgotten about the Great Famine of 1845-51 until it was brought to public discourse following the publication of Cecil Woodham-Smith’s … Continue reading
The Forgotten Mayo Famine Girls Remembered
A statue and a book to tell the story of the girls who left Mayo in the Great Famine to come to Australia. Continue reading
Meeting An Old Classic
That Trench was one of those responsible for the Famine exodus cannot be entirely excused by the fact that his motives were good, and that he felt this was a better solution than the humiliation of the workhouse and the cruelty of road-making. Continue reading
2018 International Commemoration of Famine to be in Melbourne
International Famine Commemoration to be held in Williamstown. Continue reading
ONLY NINETEEN
Rosanna Flemming, an Irish Famine Orphan, had serious medical and psychological issues. It is not known what triggered them. We know that she lost at least two children in infancy, but perhaps her earlier experiences in Ireland played a part…. Continue reading
The Irish in Coburg
Ten verbal snapshots of the Irish in Coburg over the last 180 years… Continue reading
First hand witness of the Famine
How did an anti-Mason Protestant Abolitionist, temperance advocate and vegetarian from Vermont (USA) become a first hand witness of the Great Famine and a practical advocate for famine relief? Continue reading
Colloquium on Sunburnt Irish
Thousands of Irish left the country in ships carrying with them all they owned, including the Irish language Continue reading