Famine Relief Letters, Innishowen, Co Donegal
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Barony of Ennishowen East
District of Carn
Parishes of Clonmany and Donagh
Carn 6 Nov. 1846
Sir,
In compliance with the provisions of the Relief Act [9st v 10 Vic: Cap 107?] I have to acquaint you that I have appointed the undersigned Gentlemen to form a Relief Committee for the parishes of Clonmany and Donagh.
I am Sir your obedient servant
[James Stewart Bart Vice Lieutenant ?]
Donegal
Samuel Rankin Esq J.P. Tiernaleague Carndonagh Chairman
Edmund W Metcalfe Esq Carndonagh Secretary
John Harvey Esq J.P.
Captn. Metcalfe J.P.
Rev. George Marshall Rector of Donagh
Rev. George Young Rector of Clonmany
Rev. William M’ Cafferty p.p. Donagh
Rev. William O’Donnell p.p. Clonmany
Rev Robert [Raques Presb. Min. the Chairman of P.L. Unions?]
James C Weekham Esq S S Constabulary
G S Penfold Esq. RN Coast Guard Service
Michael Doyherty Esq [Jun?] Glenn House
Do Samuel Rankin Esq JP
[Nothing else on the paper]
Barony Ennishowen List
Dist. Carn
Parishes of Clomany and Donegal
[signed by what looks like James Stewart’s signature]
Carndonagh County Donegal
6th Nov. 1846
[Stamp indicates receipt on 9th Nov. 1846]
Sir,
I have been directed to forward to you the enclosed document appointing the Relief Committee for the Parishes of Clonmany and Donagh and to request that the necessary books and papers may be sent to me.
I have the Honour to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
Edmund W Metcalfe
Secretary Relief Committee
To The Commissary General
Castle
Dublin
Envelope? With address
[Carndonagh Stamp for date 8 Nov. 1846]
On Her Majesty’s Service
To the Commissary General
Castle
Dublin
Relief Committee
Tiernaleague, Carndonagh
19 Nov. 1846
Sir
Edmund Metcalfe having resigned the office of Secretary to the Clonmany & Donagh Relief Committee, I have been directed by Sir James Stewart Vice Lt of the County of Donegal to invest the name of Mr Michael Kearney of Carndonagh in the room of Mr Metcalfe.
I am Sir
Your obedient Servant
[Samuel?] Rankin
Chairman
Clonmany & Donagh Relief Committee
To the Commissary General
Castle
Dublin
Clonmany, Straid, January 25 1847
[Stamped Received Jan 27 1847]
Sir,
On the other side is a copy of a letter received on the 21st inst. From the Castle, I regret to state, I have received no communication as yet from you on the subject alluded to. As my letter therein referred to, representing the frightful misery and destitution of the poor people of this parish of Clonmany is already before you, it is needless to say more on that distressing, heartrending subject - than barely to state, that although we are not so badly off as yet as the people of Skibbereen, it is only a mere matter of time with us, and that what the people of that sadly distressed locality are, at present, we, if not reasonably and speedily achieved, in a fortnight, nay probably in one week, must be. If you Sir, as I have no doubt you will, send us provisions, there will be every facility of landing them on our coast, although we have no pier or quay, still there is a very convenient safe little bay [???town] where a steamer or vessel could cast anchor very near to the shore and the provisions could be landed by the small boats of the place as has been done in former years of scarcity. There is also a coast guard station on the coast in the same place –
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I might also mention that the distance from the above bay which is situated a little to the west of Malin Head to the centre of our parish is not more than two short miles. Hoping you will take our deplorable condition into your human consideration and to hear from you very soon.
I have the honour to be
Your most humble servant
P McEldowney pp
Clonmany
Straid
Carndonagh
Secretary protem
Clonmany Relief Committee
To Commissary General
Sir Randolph Routh
Dublin Castle
[Copy letter from Dublin Castle made by P McEldowney and attached with above letter]
Copy
Dublin Castle 20th January 1847
Sir,
I am directed by the Lord Lieutenant to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst. and to inform you, that if has been referred to the Commissary General with a request that he will communicate with you on the subject to which you allude.
I am Sir
Your most obedient
Humble servant
M [Redington?]
Revd. P McEldowney
[R.C.C?]
Straid
February 5th 1847
Straid, Carndonagh
Sir,
The relief committee of Clonmany, deeply impressed with the awful responsibility of providing by every possible means sustenance for some thousands of the famishing population of this parish, are most urgently impelled from the very great importance of this imperative duty respectfully yet most earnestly to solicit the Commissary General to assist them in preserving the lives of Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects of the parish of Clonmany, now so awfully menaced by famine and pestilence.
The Committee beg to state that the unaccountable harshness and cruel procrastination in progressing with the public works in this parish has been the fertile source of great murmuring misery and deep discontent, may [be] the prolific parent of starvation, disease and death. And the drain on our parochial funds has been in a direct ratio with the wants and incessant demands
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demands of the famishing multitude and consequently have been very considerably diminished by illusory promises of employment for the people.
The Committee however entertain sanguine hopes that Government will in its wisdom and feelings of philanthropy grant them pecuniary aid and the necessary cooking apparatus to enable them to have a soup kitchen established forthwith, which will they think contribute much to serve the poor more effectually and with greater economy.
On the part of the Committee
With great respect we have the honour to be Sir
Your most obedient Humble Servants
W O’Donnell pp chairman
P McEldowney pp Treasurer & Secretary protem
JC Commissary General
Carndonagh
7 Feb. 1847
Sir,
In acknowledging the receipt of your letter dated 2nd February, I beg to state that I am directed by the Clonmany & Donagh Relief Committee to inform you that they are determined not to establish a soup kitchen in this locality, having formed a depot in this town for the sale of cheap meal to the destitute.
I have the Honor
to be
Sir
Your most Obt. H. St.
Michael Kearney
Secretary
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