3-052-484 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Irish Sketches: a fisherman's cabin in Connemara, 1880. 'The fisheries along the western shores of Ireland are next in importance to the cultivation of the land, as means of subsistence for the distressed population. Our Special Artist lately in Connemara furnishes the sketch of a fisherman's hut...The total number of men and boys employed in all the deep-sea and coast fisheries of Ireland is about 21,000, with nearly six thousand vessels...The Galway deep-sea fisheries have sadly declined, and this occasions much distress, not only in Connemara, the maritime district north of Galway Bay, but all round the coasts of Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal, and in the numerous small islands. The sufferings of the poor islanders, at Inisboffin, Inisturk, Clare Island, Achill, and other places, have been very severe; and H.M.S. Goshawk, gun-boat, has been cruising about there, with an officer of the Local Government Board, and with stores of meal and other comforts, to visit and relieve the famishing people. The general progress of the efforts by voluntary contributions to mitigate this great calamity in the West of Ireland continues without relaxation'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.