Newtownsandes ON-LINE- Farming Newtownsandes

FARMING IN NEWTOWNSANDS

at end of page c1920 some local Greyhound Owners

Little is known of the early settlers in the parish. We can only guess the type of living and culture they had. They must have been very superstitious, as piosogs have survived to modern times. See local folklore (else where in this book).

Many sites are still to be seen where primitive people used cook their food. Burnt gravel marks their cooking sites. Cooking took place where there was a constant supply of fresh running water. Often neat swampy ground they used to heat stones in a sort of a bonfire. When they were red hot stones were tossed into timber trough of water with a wooden shovel. The stones were used to boil the water, which cooked the meat and vegetables. Often the stones busted with the heat, leaving the burned gravel, which marks the ancient peoples cooking site to this day. In lough Gur we can see the type of houses that our ancestors used 3000 years ago. It is though the first settlers came to Ireland c6000 years ago.

The Bronze Age is thought to have about 2000BC. Celtic farmers grew barley and wheat and many vegetables. They built the ring forts, which were very numerous in the parish. Only a few now remain.
Faction fighting was the order of the day. Slavery was the lot of most people. Human sacrifice was a practice in all cultures surly the Irish did the same.

When Christianity came to Ireland
When Christianity came to Ireland the population was small. By 700AD monasteries were well established. The monks having a settled live were able to make great progress in Farming, Medicine, Arts, and Building.
The Ardagh Chalice made 800AD shows how well art had developed. Monasteries controlled much of the food production.
Around this time the Danes started to attack and plunder the monasteries. People were forced to return to substance farming. While the Danes started villages along the rivers and inlets of the country. They needed food fuel and materials to build houses and had to trade or plunder from the native Irish. They bartered or plundered for their needs. The next great change to come was the Normans who arrived in Ireland in 1170. They brought a lot of knowledge and experience with them. To achieve total power they built strong tower houses and treated their tenants as serfs.
Here in the parish we had castles in Glennlappa and Keylod controlled by the Connors. The Connors were always feuding among themselves. Despite the unsettled state of the area, stone churches in Murhur and Knockanure were built. People marvel at the quality of their workmanship, which is evident in the remains of the churches that still survive.

Farmers had to produce food for their lord and master also his friends and followers. The o Connors also had to have 100 foot soldiers and 60 professional soldiers on call to fight for the Earl of Desmond. When the Earl visited, he and his attendants were to be entertained to lavish banquets.
No doubt raiding parties went around the countryside collecting for the wants of their Lord and master Quick Justice or no Justice prevailed at the time. It is claimed that the population of the O Connors clan area in 1600 was about 2000 people.
Farming must have consisted of cattle (sheep) rearing on the open countryside as no fences exited until much later. Families had to secure small plots of ground to grow crops for household use. With no manure they had to use new ground every few years. Many burned the scraw to provide some sort of fertiliser for their crops.
After the fall of the Connors in 1653, big changes came in landowner ship. Ex-soldiers and loyal servants were given confiscated land in payment for services received. 40 years later most of the Ex-soldiers were dispossessed. In 1750 the population of Ireland was about 3 million. Despite the hardships, disturbances and faction fights, in 90 years the population jumped to 8 million. The potato and the fencing of property helped to sustain the rapid growth in population. People could live on milk and potatoes all their life (many died young).
Early marriage and high birth rate where all hands were put to work. People were able to make a miserable living. People were self-sufficient. They had flax and wool to make clothing, houses were built of mud and thatch and bog dale sticks were also used to roof the house. Both pigs and poultry consumed all surplus and stale food. Most people lived as tenants. They could acquire the site of a house by working for a local farmer. These tenants had no rights. The property owner could evict them at any time. These tenants at well provided free labour for the farmer. Another factor that contributed the population rise was fewer people were joining the wild geese to go to Europe. After the fall of limerick in 1690 thousands of Irish men were forced to go to Europe to join armies. It was believed that recruiting gangs lured young men to embark for Europe. Once abroad ship there were never to return. The fall in the price of corn in 1797 created more unemployment among the land less people. Who were forced to make a living as best they could? The potato was their only salvation. The collapse of the banks in 1820 ruined many substantial farmers and businessmen. Many emigrated in 1825 2000 people left Munster to establish a colony in Peterborough Canada, many from the Listowel area were among the emigrants. There was also a potato famine in 1821, 1822 that led to many white boy attacks.
Much destruction and loss of life took place during these disturbed times. Butter making was always a good trade in north Kerry. In 1820, 30,000 firkins were sent from north Kerry to cork. Before the famine, in1841 45% of farms were 1 to 5 acres. Only 7% of farms had 30 acres or more and by the time of the famine 2 million people were considered beggars or had no visible means of support. 1850 labourers wages were 5 d the price of one stone of potatoes. The famine and cholera caused the death of a great number of people. There are very few recollections of actual deaths from hugger in the parish. Older people could recall the death of one or two strangers who died on the roadside. It is presumed that they died from hunger. Many families left the countries side and went to the towns looking for food which was distributed in the towns. Over crowding poor sanitation and malnutrition cause the death of many. Many families at the time had up to ten children who were very vulnerable to disease. When people left their houses or were evicted their house would be knocked. Cattle grazed their potato patch so less labour would be needed. Forcing more people into the workhouse or emigrate. The poor man abandoned all the small plots of land. While his better off neighbour was able to enlarge his farm. The biggest difficulty of emigration was the fare. A man with property could sell what he had to pay his fare, while the poor man often had to go to England to earn the price of the ticket. In the mean time, his wife and children were in the workhouse. Sometimes the workhouse would pay the fare of teenagers to go abroad. Many of them were orphans. Between 1850 and 1870s Spaights of Limerick took 500,000 people to America. It was not all hunger in Ireland before the famine. It was reported that as many as 100 boats were on the Shannon. 50 thousand barrels of grain and 25 thousand pigs were sent to limerick up the Shannon, also 200 firkins of butter a month. Between the famine and1879 farming was improving the size of farms had increased. Bad harvests again in 1879 caused server hardship and many were threatened with eviction. Michael Davit organised the land league. The land league wanted the three Fs. Fair rent, fixity of tenure and free sale. Most people joined the land league. Old newspapers contained reports of their activities. Many from the parish were arrested and imprisoned in limerick. The neighbours of the imprisoned did all their farm work while they were away. The ladies land league was very active at this time. The land act of 1881 gave some relief. Other acts were to follow in later years. All the land was bought from the landlords. Tenants gained ownership of the land at a small yearly rent. One side affect of the farmer owner ship of land was that new young farmers had no land available to rent. New entrants had to wait until middle age before they could farm in their own right. This had a negative effect on farm progress.
Some prices in 1897: 3 heifer calves �9.00
Mid-wife salary �25.00 per year.
Many emigrated and some joined the army. Donations from abroad helped to rare many families. When they were old enough they immigrated to join their uncles and brothers. Immigration took of the economic pressure from at home. When most of the family had immigrated whoever was chosen to run the home place could get married and raise a family of there own and the cycle of emigration continued.
Wakes and fairs
In the old times, wakes were a big occasion. All the neighbours and relations from miles would come to the house of the deceased and expect to the entertained. It is thought that the funeral to the church in the evening before the burial was a means of curtailing some of the excesses at wakes.
Fairs were another time for trouble both with animals and men. People had to prepare early in the morning so that they would have their cattle in the town a good position in the marketplace was prized by sellers. The earlier you arrived; it was believed you would get a better price. When animals were sold, it was the custom of the farmer to buy provisions and necessities for themselves and their families and would also have to pay the bank and shops for money due.

WORK ON THE FARM
Work on the farm went with the seasons and repeated itself every year. In the winter cattle were housed they had to be supplied with hay and bedding and cleaned out every day with a pike and a shovel and a wheelbarrow. Every day turnips and mangles had to be pulped to give the animals a proper feed.
For calving difficulties, you could call a neighbour who would have skills in dealing with animals this skill was handed down for generations.
During the winter land was ploughed so that the winter frost, which was more severe than at present, made it easier to cultivate the ground. It was also a time when to make drains and dykes.
Fences had to be repaired. Many people had law cases over trespass, which kept the solicitors busy. The electric fence was a great invention and it put an end to most trespass cases. Cows would be housed until May. Calves had to be reared and sick attended to many died due to lack of medicine. In wet land fluke caused severe losses.
Animals died from diseases, which can be easily cured at the present time. Redwater, Fluke ,Worms,and other wasting diseases caused by mineral shortage Spring was a time for planting Potatoes ,Corn ,and root crops planting was slow and laborious . Crops had to be weeded, thinned and potatoes had to be risen to, at the same time cutting of turf would take place three or four men would a slean and pikes would take nearly a week to cut enough turf for a farmers house. Later hay had to be cut a man could cut one acre a day with a scythe. A mower who had a dispute with another mower could arranged to put something in his opponents tea, in no time he had the runs, there was nothing for it but take off his trousers and work away a stubborn mower was not going to be stopped.
Cutting the corn
Cutting the corn in the autumn. Binding the sheaves, some women used bind the sheaves with a child on their backs, when the corn was dry in the stooks it was carted to the farmyard where a stack was made, later the trashier called all the neighbours called to give a hand. In old times a man with a winnow used travel from farm to farm blowing the chaff from the grain, around the time of the Listowel races potatoes would be dug, put into pits and turned several times during the winter, many young men and women found employment at both home and abroad during harvest time. Late in the year all root crops were put into clamps to protect them from the frost and the weather, surplus produce was taken to the market by the horse load, one poor man had big pockets in his coat so that he could take samples from many bags put them in his pocket and in this way he was able to feed himself. Old trades have nearly died out like shoeing horses, harness making, stone mason and the repair person who could do all sorts of trades, he could build, thatch, repair, pave and pick scallops or quarry flags.
Household chores
Household chores have changed very much during the last century, most houses in the first half of this century were thatched with an open fire in the kitchen, fires had to be started in the morning to make breakfast, water had to be drawn from the well or stream, clothes were made from old suits, jumpers were knitted, sheets made from flour bags, crochet quilts. All clothes had to be hand washed, big items you put them in a tub and trample them with your feet, smaller items were washed on a washing-board other clothes were boiled in a pot. Baking was an art great judgement was needed otherwise you had a burnt loaf, children were often dressed in rags the new clothes saved for Sunday or special occasions, fowl of all sorts were at the kitchen door or inside the house looking for a bite to eat, a dog or cat could raid the table, it was then you would hear the noise, pigs got the waste small potatoes and a shake of meal on top. Ducks and geese were in every puddle in the yard. Children would search the ditches for eggs; sometimes a hen could arrive with a clutch of chickens, which she hatched in some hiding place.
The station was always a big occasion families spent weeks preparing they wanted everything right on the day, on one occasion a girl was sent to the well for water she took the only kettle in the house she left it fall into the well what a fuss was created no kettle and no water to make the tea.

Some Local Greyhound Owners c1920.
Tom Allen Ballybunion. D J Bailey Tralee. John Barrett Kilflynn. John L Barry Listowel. Wm. J Behan Ardfert. Dan Boland Lisselton.
John Brassil Tralee. Wm. D Broderick Listowel. Con Brosnan Listowel. Tim Brosnan Kilmorna. Jer Buckley Lixnaw. John Bunyan Lisselton. Jim Carmody Kilflynn. Frank Casey Ballyheigue.Jim Clarke Ballybunion. Dan Cleary Shanagolden. Dick Colbert Abbeyfeale. Dan Collins Templeglantine. Wm. R Collins Abbeyfeale. Wm. Coolehan Tarbert. Tom Corridan Abbeyfeale. Wm. Corridan Ballylongford. Dan Costelloe Lixnaw. Jas Costelloe Ballybunion. Jack Cremins Lisselton. Mick and Tim Cronin Lixnaw.Jim Crowley Listowel. P J Curtin Glin. Wm. Diggins Causeway. Jas Dillon Lisselton. Wm. Dillon Finuge. Martin Dinneen Causeway. Willie Dowling Woodford.Wm. Dunne Abbeyfeale. Eugene Ferris Tralee.
Henry and Wm. J Fitzell Ardfert.Jim Fitzgerald Foynes. Tom Fitzgerald Athea. Ted Fitzgibbons Listowel.Pat Flynn Kilmorna. S W Fuller Glenoe. Wm. Fuller Odorney. Kit Galvin Finuge. Ml Galvin Duagh. Mort Galvin Lixnaw. Jas Griffin Causeway. Jack Griffin Castleisland.John A Griffin Newcastlewest. John Halloran Ardfert. J C Harnett Abbeyfeale. John D Harnett Tournafulla. Ml W Harnett Abbeyfeale. Jim Harty Causeway. Jim Healy Ardfert. E Horan Castleisland. Guard Hurley Rathkeale. Denis Hussey Castleisland. Moss and William Keane Causeway.Bill Keane Ballygrennan. Jack Kearney Ballyheigue. Paddy Kelliher Rathea. Andy Kelly Kilmallock. Pat Kelly Tanavalla. J R Kissane Ballylongford. Pat Lawlor Lixnaw. Con and Pat Leahy Abbeyfeale. Jim Liston Knockaderry. Pat Liston Tralee. Jim Lynch Lixnaw. Denis Pat Lyons Abbeyfeale. Tom Mahony Abbeydorney. Austin Martin Tralee. Ml M Moloney Church St Abbeyfeale. J P Moriarty Ballyheigue. Jack Mulcahy Newcastlewest. Ml M Mulcahy Strand.Tim Mulcahy Tournafulla. Tom Mulcare Shanagolden. John Murphy Listowel.Wm Mc Auliffe Templeglantine. Bill Mc Auliffe Abbeyfeale. John Mc Carthy Ardfert.J Mc Donnell Ballyduff. Henry and Maurice Mc Elligott Lixnaw.Jack Mc Ellistrum Edenburn. Jer Mc Ellistrum Tralee. Jack Mc Grath Ardagh. Jim Mc Mahon Shanagolden. Joe Mc Mahon Rathkeale.Eugene Mc Namara Ballyduhig. J Mc Namara Abbeyfeale. Bill Nash Ardagh. Wm. Nolan Lyrecrompane.Tom O Brien Tanavalla. Ml O Carroll Ballyheigue. Tom Carroll Pallas. John Connell Lixnaw. Tom J Connell Listowel. Tom J P Connell Abbeyfeale.Chris O Connor Ennismore.Denis O Connor Listowel.James Connor Glin. John Connor Duagh. Tim Connor Glin. Jas O Donnell Newcastlewest. P E Driscoll Ardfert. Mick Flaherty Ardfert. Wm. Flaherty Tanavalla. Bertie Gorman Foynes. Jer Keeffe Abbeyfeale. J L Keeffe Meenscovane. Owen Leary Finuge. Wm. Leary Listowel. Dan P Rourke Tralee. Charles Shaughnessy Askeaton. D M Sullivan Knockaderry. John Sullivan Tarbert. Jack Sullivan Lixnaw. J Sullivan Abbeyfeale. T D Sullivan Listowel. T Sullivan Ballyduff. Wm. Sullivan Tournafulla. Jim Dower Duagh. Dick Power Ballylongford. John Price Tralee. Pat Quill Causeway. Jim Regan Kilmoyley.John Regan Lixnaw. D J Reidy Castleisland.J J Rice Abbeydorney. J A Roche Ardagh. Mick Roche Lixnaw. John Ryan Abbeyfeale. Pat Ryan Askeaton. Jer Ryle Ardfert. Dick Savage Finuge. ? and Wm. Savage Ardfert.John Scannell Abbeydorney. Denis Shanahan Ardfert. Ml Shanahan Kilflynn. Dan Sheehan Finuge.T F Sheehan Kilflynn. J P Sheehy Duagh. J B Silles Lixnaw. Jim Somers Shanagolden. Jack Stack Coolkeragh. Denis Sullivan Kilflynn. P J Trant Listowel. David Walsh Tralee. Jer J Walsh Tralee.J R Walsh Listowel. Tom Walsh Tralee. Davie Ward Abbeyfeale. David Fitzgerald Abbeyfeale.T D Warren Abbeyfeale. Paddy White Bedford. Peter Williams Ardfert.M Woulfe Finuge. Ml Woulfe Listowel. J Mc Carthy and M Collins Ardfert.Pat Sheehy Duagh.Ed Sheehy Tralee. Dick Woulfe Kilteen. Fitzmaurice Duagh.