Connemara’s Appeal

This newsreel shows the hardship endured by the people of Connemara following the economic recession that came in the wake of political turmoil.

Ireland was in a ruinous state, following the War of Independence, the Civil War and economic depression. Between 1923 and 1924, wages were cut by 16%, the old age pension was reduced by 10% and a seven-day working week was introduced. For farmers, especially in the west of Ireland, harvests were particularly poor and large numbers of livestock died due to hunger related diseases.

Additionally, turf (the main fuel resource) would not dry because of damp weather conditions. By the beginning of 1925, hundreds of thousands of people were in dire need. This newsreel depicts some of the hardship experienced by the people of Connemara (considered one of the most impoverished regions in the country). The conditions were so dire that, even with government aid grants of £500,000, these conditions resulted in many deaths and widespread suffering.