County Cork
County Cork, Ireland
A Bit of History
After the Battle of Waterloo and the Peace of 1815, many emigrants began leaving southwest Cork. A popular route ran from Cork to New Brunswick and Maine and then westward to Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Pacific Northwest.
One Cork parish, Schull lies at the foot of Mount Gabriel, a 1339-foot peak on the Mizen Peninsula. Many Harrigan family members lived in the area southwest of the port of Schull. They harvested the seaweed used as fertilizer and food in famine times from Harrigan’s Rocks in Toormore Bay. These Harrigans spoke Irish and were Catholics.
Because of conditions in Cork in the early 1800’s, there was appalling poverty in Schull. A usual dwelling was a windowless hovel of stone and mud. Because of their situation, many Irish people, including our ancestors, decided to leave for Canada. This was before the Great Famine (1846-47). At many small ports were timber ships from Canada ready to take passengers on the return voyage. Reasonable fares (from 1 to 5 pounds per person) made it possible for these Harrigans to make the trip. By the time of the Great Famine, there were no Harrigans left in Schull parish.
-notes from the writings of Joe King.
For a one-hour video featuring a journey through the beautiful city and county of Cork, Ireland, contact
Rego Irish Records and Tapes Inc.
64 New Hyde Park Road
Garden City, NY 11530
A Bit of History
After the Battle of Waterloo and the Peace of 1815, many emigrants began leaving southwest Cork. A popular route ran from Cork to New Brunswick and Maine and then westward to Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Pacific Northwest.
One Cork parish, Schull lies at the foot of Mount Gabriel, a 1339-foot peak on the Mizen Peninsula. Many Harrigan family members lived in the area southwest of the port of Schull. They harvested the seaweed used as fertilizer and food in famine times from Harrigan’s Rocks in Toormore Bay. These Harrigans spoke Irish and were Catholics.
Because of conditions in Cork in the early 1800’s, there was appalling poverty in Schull. A usual dwelling was a windowless hovel of stone and mud. Because of their situation, many Irish people, including our ancestors, decided to leave for Canada. This was before the Great Famine (1846-47). At many small ports were timber ships from Canada ready to take passengers on the return voyage. Reasonable fares (from 1 to 5 pounds per person) made it possible for these Harrigans to make the trip. By the time of the Great Famine, there were no Harrigans left in Schull parish.
-notes from the writings of Joe King.
For a one-hour video featuring a journey through the beautiful city and county of Cork, Ireland, contact
Rego Irish Records and Tapes Inc.
64 New Hyde Park Road
Garden City, NY 11530
posted by Wayne and Barb Harrigan @ 1:35 AM
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