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*Migration Histories > Irish > Origins
* Soup Kitchens and Poor Relief 
 
By January 1847, reports of inquests in the Cork Examiner show regular verdicts of deaths from starvation. However, it wasn't until May 1847 that the first government soup kitchen was opened in Skibbereen. There the number fed daily fell from 49,229 (almost 50% of the 1841 population and the third highest in the country) in June 1847 to 13,032 in September 1847 and 2,349 a year later.

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Central Soup Depot at Cork Illustrated London News 13 March 1847
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Central Soup Depot at Cork Illustrated London News 13 March 1847
* Moving Here catalogue reference (PRO) ZPER 34/10
At Skibbereen's charity soup kitchen, a subscription of 1/9d per month entitled the subscriber to give out two tickets per day, each exchangeable for one pint of soup.

In November 1848, the local potato crop was ravaged by *blight and, by January 1849, more than 20,120 were in receipt of indoor or outdoor relief. The Skibbereen Poor Law Union had a population of more than 100,000, two-thirds suffering from distress, but as the Rev French pointed out in March 1847, only a few hundred local inhabitants had resources to provide or organise relief. Between 1842 and 1851, 4,362 deaths were recorded in Skibbereen workhouse.

To find out more, see P Hickey, 'The Famine in the Skibbereen Union' in C Poirteir (ed.), The Great Irish Famine, Dublin, 1995.


Skibbereen's Death Toll

According to a very useful history and guide to sources, *www.skibbereen.ie/microsite/skibbereen_famine/html/intro

Establishing how many died in the Skibbereen area during the Famine is problematic but a figure of 28,000 deaths and a further 8,000 emigrated, from population of 105,000 may be reasonable. Further, it was the poorest who were hit worst. Between 1847 and 1852 holdings of less than 15 acres declined by 31%; holdings greater than 30 acres increased by 63%. Pre Famine Skibbereen society was obliterated.
Most of those who died in the Famine in Skibbereen were buried in the abbey graveyard, where a Famine Memorial stands with the inscription: 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Ps.CXV-5.' 'Erected to the memory of those departed ones who fell victims to the awful famine of 1846 and 1847. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord. And let perpetual light shine on them. May they rest in peace. Amen.'

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Creators: Aidan Lawes

 
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