Ireland History

Above : Picture Of Sir William Petty

After her long struggle Ireland was absolutely exhausted. Of her population of millions, over 600,000 had perished by the sword or by famine. Few cattle remained of the once great herds, few sheep of the splendid flocks. The famishing people, especially the old and feeble, died in great numbers. Of the soldiers of the defeated armies, many went abroad and enlisted in Continental services. Numbers of young people, boys and girls, were seized by order of the Government, and shipped off to the West Indies or to the English colonies in North America, where they were sold as slaves.

Posted on June 8th, 2008 under Ireland Under The Commonwealth. Tags: colonies, Continental services, English, famine, Government, ireland, North America, old and feeble, plantation, slaves, struggle. Comments: None

Above : Portrait Of Jeremiah O’Donovan

FOR the next few years there was tranquillity in Ireland. The activity of the constitutional politicians had ceased ; the ” physical force ” party gave no sign of life. Within a decade each had made a great effort ; both had failed. The English people in general believed that the Irish were at last ” settling down,” and that agitations and rebellions would be heard of no more. In truth, however, the apparent peace was but ” smothered war.”

Posted on June 3rd, 2008 under The Fenians. Tags: Atlantic, Co. Cork, famine, Fenians, Government, ireland, James Stephens, phoenix, Rossa, Skibbereen. Comments: None