The recently discovered ‘Gratuitous Relief Ration Record Book,’ (or the ‘Distribution Book,‘ as it was also called), for the Electoral Divisions of Holycross, Thurles and Ballycahill, dated 1847/48, has now been digitized and uploaded on line, allowing yet another search facility, for those anxious to trace their family roots back to their once local homestead, within the Thurles Co. Tipperary area.
This afore mentioned ‘Gratuitous Relief Ration Record Book’ (Videoed on two occasions, before being broadcast on at least seven different occasions in the past, on Irish national TV channels RTE1 and TG4), contains the names of those who were classed as paupers in the hinterland / towns-lands of these aforementioned areas, during what was the most harrowing period of the Great Irish Famine, referred to as ‘Black ’47’.
This famine also known as “The Great Hunger”, lasted between 1845 and 1849 and was arguably the single greatest disaster that had ever affected Irish history.
This extremely rare ‘Rations Record Book,’ contains the names of the heads of each household and in many cases the actual names of all the adults in each household. It also contains the number of rations each householder was allowed and indeed received, together with remarks, sometimes suggesting fraud, under what can be viewed as then an early form of social welfare system introduced.
Just over 3 million Irish people were being supported nationally by outdoor relief in July of 1847. To those in the Thurles area it supported, (covering the electoral divisions of Holycross, Thurles and Ballycahill), it provides records of food rations distributed during the period May – Sept. 47 and part of 1848, being a very humiliating and an insufficient system.
Nevertheless it did keep starvation at bay for a very sizeable portion of Tipperary people at that crucial time in Black ’47’.
This new information can now be viewed on our other website Hidden Tipperary.com, (under Downloads) or directly via the link located HERE
How to search this uploaded data.
Many of you will be aware that holding down the CTRL key on the keyboard of your PC or Laptop and striking the F key; a small box will appear on your screens, bottom left corner of the page being searched.
Type into this box the ‘search word’ you hope to glean information with and press Enter.
Note: When searching for a name there may be several persons of the same name, so use the arrow keys within the search box to fully complete your search.
EXAMPLE: ‘Good Friday’, back in 1847, fell earlier on that year, on April 2nd, and had you begun using the search words Michl Hayden for example, you would have discovered the following information: –
| No. on Relief List | Townsland | Name | No. of Rations Allowed | Date | Date | Description | Remarks |
| 3229 | Ballycahill, Thurles. | Michl. Hayden | 1 | March 30th 1847 | April 6th 1847 | Old & Sickly. | Cut off. Has land. |
If anyone has any queries regarding the further understanding of this new data upload, please do contact us directly HERE.
More on this and other tourism history in the coming days.
Regrettably, due to the wanton deceit, fraudulent and common duplicity of Tipperary Co. Council officials; latter led by Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath; the Thurles Great Famine Double Ditch; same the only example of a 176 year old project of its type in existence, within the Irish 32 counties, sadly no longer exists, for the obvious benefit of local business and local tourism, within the Thurles area.
It must not be forgotten that Tipperary Co. Council were greatly aided in their destruction of this heritage by the pretentious affectations of Fianna Fáil Councillor & Cathaoirleach of Thurles Municipal District, Mr Seamus Hanafin; his council colleagues/officials (Including Thurles administrator Ms Sharon Scully), together with a fallacious ‘Archaeological Impact Statement’, authored by Mr F. Coyne BA MIAI and accepted by Mr Michael Devery, North Tipperary County Council; Róisin O Grady Tipperary Heritage Office, together with long time purposeless millionaire chasers, namely TD’s Mr Jackie Cahill and Mr Michael Lowry.
Local newspapers including Tipperary Star; Thurles Chamber of Commerce; local TippFm Radio must also all take their share of the blame, promoting people with self interests while refusing to challenge press releases and political statements.
George – re-Famine Relief Book – sincere and many thanks for providing us readers with the link to its contents – very much appreciated…. all the best
Sir, you are more than welcome. I trust you had a good browse, particularly noting the comments/remarks on the Thurles pages. Since it was hand written certain information was illegible, hence the red question marks.
I’ll be browsing for some time…….my grandfather – a native of the town was born circa 1880-1885….. so, I’m hoping to find some family link(s)……I’m not an historian, but to me it’s a great resource and insight to the most tragic period in Irish history…… once again many thanks!