During the early 1820s conditions were dire, particularly in the southern Irish counties of Tipperary, Cork, Clare, Limerick, Kilkenny, Kerry and Waterford. Amidst severe famine and intense economic depression, chronic unemployment, evictions, sectarian and millenarian upsurge and agrarian unrest, extraordinary violence became notorious. During several research visits to Ireland, the Rockite ‘wars’, the Special Sessions of 1822-4, the introduction of the Surprize hulk at Queenstown, Cork and the Essex at Kingstown, Dublin, culminating in the transportation of hundreds of protesters to the Australian colonies, became a project which captivated this researcher. Not all Irish convict ancestors were transported for petty crimes – let’s look at why some were considered ‘political’ prisoners.
Come and join Dr Jennifer Harrison and discover about these protestors that were transported.
Click here: Transportation of Irish Protestors, 1821 - 1824
