Photo: Gerard Lovett
Wikimedia Commons
Ireland has had her share of floods and can sympathize with France. Along the Shannon in some places the water invaded the country for miles at each side, compelling people living near to hasten from their homes. In one or two places the inhabitants of entire villages sought shelter elsewhere. Some of these people suffered great loss as their entire farm produce was swept off on the swollen river. So great was the flood that the powerful cargo boats could scarcely make headway.
The district near Athlone suffered much and a considerable number of men were thrown out of work. The greatest sufferers are the inhabitants of the islands in Lough Ree, where the water rose to an alarming height. They were completely cut off from the mainland for days and unable to obtain supplies of food or fuel.
Month: February 2014
Guaranteed Irish – Tobacco – Part II – 1904
Parker Burnette
Wikimedia Commons
TOBACCO IN IRELAND – PART II
On this interesting subject a correspondent writes:
“A visit to The Farm, Kilmainham, Kells, County Meath, would satisfactorily show that there can bee little doubt as to the possibility or indeed, ultimate success of tobacco culture in Ireland. The plants are very fine and well grown, all seeming in robust health. The variet grown is Yellow Prior, an earlier and dwarfer variety than Virginian, hitherto planted.
The plants were raised under cover and planted out three feet apart. They promise to require all the space given and should indeed produce well. No pains seem to have been spared in their culture and the gratitude of all Irishmen is due to Colonel Everard for the practical philanthropy with which he has taken up and worked out to such a successful issue this important industry, which if carefully nurtured and upheld, will soon be the means of giving healthy employment to thousands of our rural population. Already numbers of women and children are being employed. It but remains for Irish tobacco manufacturers to prove themselves equal to the occasion and with the usual skill of the craft to second the efforts of Colonel Everard and the department of agriculture by producing a good sound Irish-grown tobacco”. Drogheda Independent.
Guaranteed Irish – Tobacco – 1907
Photo: William Rafti
Wikimedia Commons
TOBACCO IN IRELAND
Tobacco culture was introduced in Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh during the reign of Elizabeth. County Cork can boast of being the first part of the country in which the plant was cultivated. The plant thrived and grew abundantly in the prolific soil of this country for some centuries.
During the reign of Charles II a law was passed prohibiting the culture of tobacco in Ireland. However, in the reign of George III the act was repealed. The people had forgotten all about its culture until some inhabitants of Wexford returned. This state of things continued till 1829. In this year 1,000 acres were under cultivation in Ireland. The industry is now flourishing in County Meath.
The Burren and Beyond 