The Great Famine – text by Paul Croghan
• There isn’t a lot of specific data available about the impact of the Great Famine in Maynooth, but it no doubt had an impact.
• The Population fell by 410 (2,029 to 1,619) a fall of 20% between 1841 and 1851, probably impacted by a combination of fewer births, deaths and emigration.
• The nearest Workhouse to Maynooth was the Celbridge Workhouse, the building is now a paint factory on the Maynooth Road.
• The impact of the famine on St. Patrick’s College has been documented where issues such as reduced enrolments and financial pressure are noted.
Support from the Duke
• Proximity to Carton and the Duke of Leinster resulted in some local relief schemes and it was clear that the Duke and his land agent Charles Hamilton were conscious about families being dependent on the potato.
• I found a 30 page Pamphlet written by the Duke’s land agent, Charles W. Hamilton in 1846 called “Short Hints for the small farmers of Ireland – What Shall we Substitute for the Potato?” (Courtesy of the Aidan Heavey, Collection in Athlone).
• The pamphlet covers how to grow alternative crops and improve farm practices.
• Hamilton was most likely encouraged by the Duke to do this because of the poor state of farming and food alternatives at that time.