Humanity Dick and the Conamara Famine

Martin lived in splendor at Ballona Hinch Castle on a huge estate comprising some 200,000 acres and including parts of Mayo and most of Conamara. A workhouse was built on the estate at Clifton, even though it was notorious for being crippled by debts mainly through Martin's gambling. The King of Conamara had to flee the country several years earlier upon losing his parliamentary immunity. On his death in 1834, his son Thomas became his heir. During the famine, Thomas died from a fever contracted while inspecting the awful conditions in the overcrowded workhouse which could not cope with the demands placed upon it. Given the population density per acre at the time, this could have