MAKING HISTORY


Ireland’s population grew rapidly in the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1841, there were 8.2 million people living in the country. Most of the people lived in the countryside. Only three cities had populations of more than 50,000 – Dublin, Cork and Belfast. Of these, only Belfast was industrialised, like cities in England.


The land


Landlords owned most of the land. They were descended from the planters who received land in the plantations of the 16th and 17th centuries. They rented the land to tenant farmers. In turn, these farmers worked their land, and some employed labourers to help them. ● The landlord’s agent collected rent twice a year. Tenants could be evicted for any reason, but they were usually only evicted for non- payment of rent.


● Some labourers were cottiers. Cottiers rented a small plot of ground – called conacre – from a farmer. In return they worked on the farm to pay off the rent. Other labourers were landless. These were the poorest people, living in mud cabins on the edge of towns, or renting rooms in lodging houses.


What was life like for the poor?


There was much poverty in the country in the 1840s. ● The growing population, failed harvests and dependence on farming were all causes of poverty.


Many people emigrated as a result of the poverty. In all, 1.5 million people emigrated from Ireland to the United States, Canada and especially to England in the 30 years before the Great Famine.


For poor people who lived in Ireland, there was the workhouse. The British Government passed a Poor Law Act in 1838. This set up Poor Law Unions (or districts), each with a workhouse. ● People who needed help had to move to the workhouse.


186 The landlord’s house


A well-off farmer’s house


A small farmer’s house


Cottier’s mud cabin


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