December Tipperary People and Places Lecture

The Death Census of 1847; Dr Brian Gurrin

In the spring of 1847, with Famine raging in Ireland, Daniel O’Connell’s Repeal Association organised a Death Census in parts of Ireland. Priests were requested to provide returns of the number of deaths in their parishes, along with information on distress in the localities. Coverage was patchy, but Tipperary, with thirteen returns, was particularly well covered.

This lecture will introduce the Death Census, and speak of its strengths and weaknesses. Dr Brian Gurrin is currently engaged in a four-person Famine research project based at Roehampton University,London. In the course of the project’s researches the project team has unearthed the Irish Death Census of 1847, a major source for famine-research in Ireland. The project team is currently preparing the Irish Death Census for publication.

December 18th

commencing at 7.30pm

Free event- Tea served- All welcome