In Reply to: Pilgrimage & penance in Ireland in 1840 - a partisan view posted by Mrsk on June 29, 2005 at 22:44:54:

Interesting insight into attitudes and perceptions of the tithe-paid-for-church around the time of catholic emancipation the famine and the founding of the total abstinence association. Easy to see why famine relief was so slow to come from the authorities and landlords. Blindingly obvious the roots of the protestant missionaries policy of food upon conversion. Would hate to have lived in those days.