21 October 2011

Famine burial site at Kilkenny excavated

An article in The Irish Times sheds light on conditions during the Irish Potato Famine.

The remains 970 people thought to have died between 1845 and 1852 were recovered from a developement site, the former graveyard of the Kilkenny workhouse. The majority, 56 per cent, were infants, children and youngsters.

In contrast to often harsh views of workhouse administrators the article points out that the Board of Guardians ensured that none of the burials occurred without a coffin in order to maintain the dignity in death of both adults and children.
Read the article "Witnesses to a catastrophe" at:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sciencetoday/2011/1020/1224306123786.html

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for highlighting this story -such a tragedy brought so clearly to light.