From the Emerald Isle to the Black Diamonds: A tale of famine and the endurance of the human spirit

by Kenneth J Scally

A tale of the endurance of the human spirit. The year is 1847. A group of young people leave the misery of Castlerea workhouse in Roscommon. They head for the mines and mills of Wigan, to escape the deprivation and famine of Irelands western counties.This work was from a personal study, based on the brutality, cruelty, deprivation, violence, and abuse, inflicted on these people. They were mainly tenant farmers, they suffered greatly in the years 1841 to1851. The ineptitude and indifference of the British government was a major factor in the famine, but above all, it was the greed and cruelty of the landlords and the British - Irish administration. The population of Ireland in 1851 was at least three million less than in 1841, it is unknown how many died in the fields or on the coffin ships. But we know that roughly between four and five thousand poor souls made it to the coal and cotton town of Wigan.

Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2020

Reviews

[D.J. Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for those who like historic stories.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating Read

This has given me an insight into how relatives from Ireland may have arrived in Wigan and what conditions they had to endure, thank you, Ken