“Dear Old Skibbereen”

Today we visited the Skibbereen Heritage Centre in Skibbereen, Ireland where many historians believe was the epicenter of the potato famine. I have always been moved by this song and so my reflection today will be after each stanza of the song.

“Oh Father dear I often hear you speak of Erin’s Isle,
Her lofty scenes and valleys green, her mountains rude and wild.
They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince might dwell,
Oh why did you abandon it? The reason to me tell."

The landscape of Ireland is majestic and beautiful. You never know what breathtaking sight you will see when you come around the corner. Each new town we go through holds something, new and different.

When visiting the Skibbereen Heritage Centre we were able to really delve into the potato famine. Some new learning for me included another possible answer to the line in the song “why did you abandon it?” While I know that the potato famine was a push factor for immigration I didn’t realize that the growing season of the potato was rather short compared to other crops. Due to this short season many farmers who work the potato fields had to travel inland into Ireland to find work harvesting other crops.

Could one reason the father abandoned Skibbereen was to look for work? The guides at the center reminded us that back in the days of the famine news did not travel quickly and it is quite possible that Skibereen along with other Irish towns may of felt that the blight had only hit their area and the farmers moved on to other parts of the country only to find that the blight had ravage the entire country.


"My son, I loved my native land with energy and pride,
‘Til a blight came over all my crops- my sheep and cattle died.
The rent and taxes were to pay, I could not them redeem,
And that’s another reason why I left old Skibbereen."

One of our guiding questions on this trip is to try and answer the question: Why does prejudice exist. Noel and I both were surprised that in today’s experience we may have added more knowledge to our schema on this question. It wasn’t an uncommon thought by the British that the Irish were lazy, because as potato farmer- once the crops had been planted and harvested the farmers had more time throughout the year to do other things. This down time could have been translated as “lazy” The English who were embarking on the industrial revolution- a shift in their own work habits looked down upon the Irish. This information crossed our minds as a possible reason that the English had some stereotypes of the Irish. We were able to buy a book at the gift shop that explores this theme more.

"Oh! Well do I remember that bleak December day,
The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away.
They set my roof on fire with their cursed English spleen,
And that’s another reason that I left old Skibbereen."

This verse in the song touches deeply on emotions- to be evicted is hard but on a December day and watching the place you called home burned down so no hopes of returning. Today one of the guides shared with us that it hasn’t been until recently that the Potato Famine has been something that more people are willing to talk about. As generations get father away from the tragedy they are more willing to investigate the many aspects of the famine rather than “pointing the finger of blame.”

"Your mother, too, God rest her soul, fell on the snowy ground,
She fainted in her anguish, seeing the desolation round,
She never rose, but passed away from life to mortal dream,
And found a quiet grave, my boy, in the Abbey near Skibbereen."

One powerful part of the day was a visit to the mass gravesite for unnamed famine victims. History whispered to us in the head stones and the quote that surround the site.

"And you were only two years old and feeble was your frame,
I could not leave you with my friends, you bore your father’s name.
I wrapped you in my cota mor at the dead of night unseen,
I heaved a sigh and bade good-bye to dear old Skibbereen."

During the famine many hard decisions had to be made and parents were forced to confront life and death questions such as if you only have a small portion of food- if that- who do you feed first? Do you take the portion? Does your husband? Do you feed your elderly mother? Small daughter? I can’t even allow my mind to think on these questions very long but makes me more grateful for the blessing that God has given my family and me.

"Oh! Father dear, the day may come when an answer to the call,
Each Irishmen, will feeling stern, will rally one and all.
I’ll be the man to lead the van beneath the flag of green,
When loud and high we’ll raise the cry- “Remember Skibbereen”.

The Skibbereen Famine Exhibition was a powerful way to remember the victims of the famine as they should be remembered. Famine occurs still today in our world and today made me think about that.

Stephanie