In May 1847 the Kerry Evening Post newspaper reported on the distress then prevalent in county Cork and in particular in the Castlemartyr area:

On Thursday last, about two o'clock, about 500 persons assembled at Castlemartyr, and proceeded to the residence of Lord Shannon to ask for relief. Their conduct was very violent, and they tried to force into his Lordship's demesne, but, with some difficulty, they were induced to leave. In a short time they returned, and attacked the Relief Committee stores, when a small party of police under the orders of Mr. Bell, J.P., endeavoured to protect the food within them, but were unable to do so, and some bags of biscuit, rice and meal were forcibly carried away. The people then pelted the police, and struck one of the constables, cutting him severely in the head " . Mr. Bell was knocked down , cut in the head and very much injured. Mr. Brown, Sub-Inspector, with Mr. Knaresborough, R.M., and a party of police and military from Middleton, soon after arrived at Castlemartyr when all was tranquil before them. Three of the mob were arrested by the police at the time of the outbreak, and information’s taken against them for trial at next Youghal Quarter Sessions….On Thursday the 8th inst. about noon, a number of men en mob, entered the town of Castlemartyr and proceeded to Lord Shannon's principal gate and demanded work or food. His Lordship, with Colonel Dixion of the Guards, and other gentlemen came to the gate; Dr. Eames. of Castlemartyr, got on the top of the gate and addressed them at some length, and his Lordship also spoke to them through the small aperture in the side door and said that he had nothing to do with them, they not being of his tenantry—that he would protect his own people and desired them to go to their-own Landlords, who, if any, were bound to protect them. They were almost all from Balltymacoda…

For more information on the Great Famine see the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )