August 12 Newcastle West to Cork (50 miles)

Newcastle West

The last of our heritage tour for Barb’s family. This is the church in the small town of Newcastle West. We chatted with the retired priest who was celebrating Mass this morning (Saturday) and had grown up in the diocese. He was familiar with the family names and pointed us to the Catholic cemetery in town. Unfortunately, all the limestone headstones had deteriorated to the point that they were unreadable. It’s neat to think that four and five generations ago, family was in this same space praying the Mass.

The Great Famine

Began in 1845 and ended in 1852 hitting the south and western parts of the country the worst. During The Great Famine over one million people died. During and immediately after The Famine the Irish population dropped 20 to 25%. Some towns losing up to 67% of their population. 

In the 1840s a potato blight spread across the country, wiping out the main source of food for much of the population. The famine and its effects permanently changed the island’s demographic, political, and cultural landscape, producing an estimated two million refugees and spurring a century-long population decline. 

Bridge of Tears

It’s also called the “Bridge of Sorrows”. During the time of the famine this bridge at the edge of Newcastle West was where emigrants would say their last tearful goodbyes to family and friends before walking or taking a carriage to Cork and departing by boat to North America knowing that for most of them they were unlikely to ever return or see their loved ones again. The first Hollohan emigrated to Kentucky from here.