Summary: Famine
Key dates:
For ordinary people in Ireland in the 18th century famine was always a possibility. The dependence on the potato made this very likely on many occasions. It was government policy at that time not to give charity. As a result, in many areas, near starving peasants would be asked to engage in some form of public work which paid a pittance but this provided the poor with some money to buy food. The Connolly Folly was built by the workers on the estate of Speaker Connolly at Castletown, Co Kildare during the famine of 1740-41.
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