THE DISTRESS IN THE WEST OF IRELAND.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—May I beg a small space in your columns to call the
attention of your readers to the present shocking distress in the West of Ireland ? The following extracts are from an article in the Daily Nation of February 23rd. The locality referred to is the parish of Carraroe, County Galway :—
"The whole parish of about 750 families is practically without
means of subsistence There is no comp irison with the distress at present prevailing, except that which prevailed in
1847 There is already an outbreak of English cholera both on the mainland and on the islands, and the children are suffering from an outbreak of mumps. Many of the families are depending on one meal a day, consisting of Indian meal, the price of which is in many cases given out of private charity. The islanders suffer from a scarcity of fuel, except on one island there is no turf, and there is no money to buy any. At the best of times the people of these districts live principally on potato helped out by a little fish. The land is bog of the very worst description. The only industry is kelp making, and that has failed through competition from Norway and Sweden. The only boats for fishing purposes are canvas corraghs. They have no potatoes left for food, nor any for seed."
Relief work, by a curious rule, is only given to "heads of families." An old woman, in wretched health, was found. earning, by carrying stones for road-making, the sum of 101 a day, by which she had to support herself and four sons. This family has no bed at all to sleep on. Other families were found sleeping in their rags on the clay floor. The state of the children is pitiable indeed, many of them unable to attend school for want of clothes; indeed, many of the people are almost naked. It is probable that even the relief works, small help as they are, may soon fail owing to the opposition of the Onghterard Guardians to contribute any more money out of the already overburdened rates ; and the present private charity funds are as a drop in the ocean Contributions of money or clothes will be most thankfully received by the parish priest, the Rev. John Healy, at Carraroe, County Galway, who is doing his utmost to keep, if possible, these wretched people from actual starvation. Trusting there may be a generous and immediate response. and some organised future relief also through this appeal.—I am, Sir, &c.,
M. PARTON.
[This letter should be read in connection with Mr. Gerald Balfour's statement in Parliament daring the debate on the Address.—En. Spectator.]
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