|
|
Bridget O'Donnell and Her Children," from The Illustrated London News,
1849:
"The Sketch of a Woman and Children" represents Bridget O'Donnell.
Her story is briefly this: 'I lived,' she said, 'on the lands of Gurranenatuoha.
My husband held four acres and a half of land, and three acres of bog land; our
yearly rent was L7 4s; we were put out last November; he owed some rent. We got
thirty stone of oats from Mr. Marcus Keane, for seed. My husband gave some
writing for it; he was paid for it. He paid ten shillings for reaping the corn.
As soon as it was stacked, one 'Blake' on the farm, who was put to watch it,
took it away in his own haggard and kept it there for a fortnight by Dan
Sheedey's orders. The then thrashed it in Frank Leille's barn. I was at this
time lying in fever. Dan Sheedey and five or six men cam to tumble my house;
they wanted me to give possession. I said that I would not; I had fever, and was
within two months of my down-lying (confinement); they commenced knocking down
the house, and had half of it knocked down when two neighbors, women, Nell
Spellesley and Kate How, carried me out. I had the priest and the doctor attend
me shortly after. Father Meehan annointed me. I was carried into a cabin and lay
there for eight days, when I had the creature (the child) born dead. I
lay for three weeks after that. The whole of my family got the fever, and one
boy thirteen years old died withwantsand with hunger while we were lying sick.
Dan Sheedey and Blake took the corn into Kilrush and sold it. I don't know what
they got for it. I had not a bit for my children to eat when they took it from
me. . . . '
|
|
