Bridget O'Donnell and her children in Clare

Bridget O'Donnell and her children in Clare

December 22,1849

1845-1852

This is a depiction of Bridget O'Donnell who was a poor Irish pregnant woman. Her and her family were evicted during the Irish Potato Famine. Her story is quite sad after her eviction she became quite sick and remained bedridden for over a week. At the end of her sickness she had a miscarriage. One of her children ends up dying "with wants and hunger." Her story is not unlike many other Irish. They did not have enough money to pay for rent and food, so out of necessity they would buy food so their family would not starve, however, they would not be able to pay rent and they would be evicted. Bridget's eviction happened in November when it would have been fairly chilly so that probably added to her hardships. Although there is not a lot of information about her or what happened to her, her story does give a sense of what kind of conditions the Irish were living in during the Great Hunger.

Wikimedia Creative Commons and http://adminstaff.vassar.edu/sttaylor/FAMINE/ILN/Condition/Condition2.html

Economy

Illustrated London News

Amanda Dison

The Illistrated London News -paper