Famine Diary: Journey to a New World

by James J. Mangan

Book by Mangan, James J., Keegan, Gerald

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Joan Austen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all Irish genealogy enthusiasts, the book is a disturbing account of the destitute state of hunger in Ireland during the potato famine and the horror of the journey on the coffin ships for those who immigrated to a new life. The heartbreaking descriptions are unforgettable. I read this book over ten years ago and it haunts me to this day.

[Conor Tannam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Totally depressing read about a coffin ship to Canada in the nineteenth century.

[Cainneach Rua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving and fascinating read.

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant short book based on the journal of Gerald Keegan, an Irishman who joined the emigration to Canada during the time of the enforced famine whilst the English gentry bled Ireland dry. He and his wife joined one of the coffin boats and suffered the appalling conditions and disease that beset everyone on the journey. Keegan kept his journal for less than six months, but he determined to show the world just what had happened to his countrymen. Unfortunately he was landed on Grosse Ile, the quarantine base where he watched his new wife die of fever and fell victim to it himself, along with probably at least 15,000 others - rather more than the official figure of 5000. The book was an eye-opener into a part of history that I hadn't even been aware of.

[Laurie Locke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read about something I didn't know that much about but would now like to learn more about. It is the diary of a young teacher during the time of the Irish Potato Famine and the resulting mass exodus of poor Irish farmers to Canada. It is truly heart-breaking but at the same time extremely informative as to the nefarious motives of the wealthy landowners, the British government and the sea captains who transport the immigrants. The diary is brutal in it's descriptions of the conditions they were forced to contend with both at home in Ireland and on their journey to Canada. I would highly recommend it to anybody who is interested in history and politics.

[Lucy J Jeynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realised when I was in Ireland that I don't know enough about the famine. Now I've read this first-hand account of Ireland and the journey to Canada, I've realised I know even less than I thought. Time for some more reading....

[Chris Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating journey for Gerald keegan and his wife to death, very sad story