In the fall of 1846, several parts of Clare were in a very wretched
condition; but, at the opening of the new year, the most prosperous
localities in that county had been sucked into the great famine vortex.
Writing at this period from Ennis, the chief town, Captain Wynne says:
"The number of those who, from age or exhaustion and infirmity, are
unable to labour, is becoming most alarming; to those the public works
are of no use; they are, no doubt, fit subjects for private charity and
the exertions of relief committees, but it is vain to look to these
sources for relief at all commensurate with the magnitude of the demand.
Deaths are occurring from Famine, and there can be no doubt that the
Famine advances upon us with giant strides." Several of the officials
who had written to Sir Randolph Routh and others, from different parts
of the country, blamed the people for their listlessness, their
idleness, and the little interest they seemed to take in cropping their
land, in order to secure a future supply of food. Addressing himself to
this point, Captain Wynne says: "It is in vain to direct their [the
people's] attention to the prosecution of those agricultural operations
which can alone place any limit to their present deplorable condition.
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