evictions

Dated Monday 30 July 1888. Mary O'Dea's house was the first of three O'Dea households evicted; the second (a sub-tenant) was in error. Vividly described at trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/169707904 , including ...

... The house of Mary O'Dea was the next that was visited. It too. had the doors, windows, and furniture completely removed, and inside, when the sheriff, police, and emergencymen entered the sight was pitiable enough. A turf fire was burning in the big open grate. Beside it sat, or rather crouched, an old woman; the tenant and her daughter stood at her side. Inspector Hill tells the woman to go out, and the daughter replies, "We will only go when we are put out." Mr. Hill said, "You really will have to go, see," and was about to further persuade her when the sheriff stepped forward, and, putting his hand on the old woman, said -- "Come, out with you." Mrs. O'Dea answered, "Yes, I'll go, God help me, but 'tis you who put me out." Mother and daughter then left the house. Quite close stands the cabin of a widow of the same name, Mary O'Dea. It was stated by the under-agent that she was a sub-tenant of the woman last evicted ... ...

Clare Library doesn't know which house this, but suggested Tullycrine for the location.

I know from the other Tulycrine/Tullycreen photos that W.L was refering to the DED rather than the townland of which there are five. www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Clare/Tullycreen/ There is this other ODea eviction scene-- not yet digitised-- but in the Clare Library-- that was taken in the Townland of Knockaderreen. There is a mention in the C.L of the bailiff going to the wrong O Dea on the day. Not the above I hope. The other ODea house. for which the census returns tally www.flickr.com/photos/91549360@N03/23547319296/in/datepos...

Sharon Corbet O Mac If this is the Mary O'Dea house, it should be fairly close to John Flanagan's, which was visited immediately before, according to the newspaper report. And then they went to the wrong Mary O'Dea ("sub-tenant"), and then the widow Johanna O'Dea ("the last house ..."). Common sense says that the forces would not have zig-zagged all over the countryside, But then I am flummoxed by the two newspaper reports inconsistencies about Thomas Bermingham. The one says it happened on 30 July; the other on 31. It may well be that the various Australian newspapers lost some of the fine detail in the editor's rush to tell a good yarn, or at least condensed the action. They would have been reprinting reports from actual newspapers and magazines via ship (hence the six week delay in publication) rather than telegraphic short messages. Has anyone been able to find the original of these reports, probably in the Daily News (Dublin?London), the Nation or the Freeman ? There should be more detail and accuracy included.

This Clare Library page - www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/fam_... - has terrific background information (should anyone be looking for it), including this about the sequence of events ...

... The McGrath eviction [Thursday 26/7/1888 - a photographer turned up - Robert French?] was the one which got most attention and in retrospect, it can be seen with its accompanying tragedy, to have put immense pressure on the landlord. There were two further days of evictions with Mr. French, the photographer, present on both days. On Monday 30th July Patrick Carrig, Thomas Considine, John Flanagan, the Widow O'Dea and Johanna O'Dea from the Tullycrine area were evicted, and a Mrs.O'Dea had her door burst in with a sledge before the evictors realised they had come to the wrong house. On the following day the procession again moved in the Kilkee direction and evicted John Connell, Thomas Bermingham and Thomas Higgins. Thomas Higgins was the last person to be put out of his house and holding in the Vandeleur Evictions of the summer of 1888. ...

According to www.historyireland.com/18th-19th-century-history/notice-t..., this is an evicted family, ca. 1887. The same family: catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000043129

Amazing. Powerful image. Bare feet there too. There must have been tough as nails.

Here are some newspaper reports on the Gweedore evictions from the Derry Journal. From looking at the list of people at the bottom, there's a chance that this is "Daniel O'Donnell, wife and 3 small children, Knockastolar - evicted".

B-59 There's a second megazoomable (but reversed) version available. (Attributed to Mason, again).

While this abode is made of the most basic materials available nonetheless it is a well constructed shelter with a window and a bothán for the animals presumably out the back!

the man in the doorway looks like he is telling someone off ..

The large white collars on the obviously better off boys are impressive. Fashion of the day or school uniform maybe? The faded sign over the door seems to refer to a private hotel serving dinners and ale

why there was an eviction?

Can you just imagine the tragedy that this was for some family? Can you imagine the hurt and shame that was attached to having your few possessions thrown out onto the street to the laughs and catcalls of the local urchins? When I was growing up this was still prevalent and those evicted had an uncertain future, ready accomodation was not always readily available, transporting your bits and bobs to a safe place was not easy. Indeed the "handcart" nearby would probably be the only thing they could afford or obtain and there are some unforgiving hills in Waterford if your relatives lived in the wrong place. What a terrific and terrifying insight into social history? Well done Carol, 1001 is a good start to the million!

TJ It's a very long shot, but maybe some information might come in here to explain the background to this eviction...