Posted by Murrisk on June 24, 2001 at 19:02:01:
Some time ago there were posting relating to the ages of the local churchs in Castlebar. Christchurch was complete in 1739 (started when? and the clock tower was added in 1807, all helped enormously by tithes levied on the Catholic populace.(The Act disestablishing and disendowing the Church of Ireland took effect on January 1,1871). The foundation stone for the Methodist Chrch on the Mall was blessed by John Wesley in 1785 and presumably the church was completed within a few years after that.
Just three lifetimes of 52 years each, or 156 years ago, in September 1845, potato blight was first reported in Ireland. There was complete destruction of the potato crop in the summer of 1846 with the consequences we are all so sadly aware of. Records show a moderate potato crop in 1847, however, there was again a general failure of the potato crop in the summer of 1848. 'Remember them in your prayers' while the celtic tiger enjoys a time of plenty.
On June 28, 1853, income tax was extended to Ireland by an Act of parliament and in April-June 1866 the Fenians were raiding Canada from U.S. territory.