Bernard H. Becker

Disturbed Ireland : Being the Letters Written During the Winter of 1880-81 Bernard H. Becker

In this invaluable resource for both local and family historians, Becker, a renown nineteenth century journalist, journeys through Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Cork, and Kerry, during 1880, reporting the Land War. We hear of the places he visited and the people he met, including Captain Boycott. Members of the landed gentry and military are depicted as struggling to cope with the ostracism of the local populations of Westport, Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Connemara, Ennis, and Gortatlee, Tralee, Killarney and Valencia. The locals are depicted as lively, courteous and impenetrable as they close ranks against a system, which is driving them from the land. His analysis is often sympathetic to the hungry, unkempt native Irish, but ultimately he retires within the boycotted boundaries of the country houses of the besieged Irish gentry. Clachan editors have edited it carefully, updating certain disused symbols, spelling and punctuation. We have also provided an index and scholarly footnotes.