April 28th, 1846 The people have only the clergy to console them, according to a Mayo priest.
Father Patrick MacManus informs the Relief Commission that typhus fever, diarrhoea and dysentery are rife in Kilgeever. "There is but one resident gentleman in this parish Mr James Garvey, of Tully there are no magistrates, none but the clergy to convey the wants of the people."
Nevertheless, a relief committee has been formed "We seek not aims, we solicit employment. But, whatever the mode of relief be, we again repeat our hope that the people will not be allowed to starve.
Clergymen report destitution in Leitrim and the midlands. George Shaw writes from Annaduff Rectory, Drumsna "The parish of Annaduff consists of nearly 10,000 acres and has more than 6,000 inhabitants and there is not a single resident landed proprietor to assist, by his presence and personal cooperation, in any benevolent undertaking.
Mr Shaw points out that the potato crop has failed for several seasons in his parish, and impoverished the small farmers and labourers even before the present crisis. "It is lamentable to see the crowds of able and willing labourers standing idle for want of someone to hire them. Potatoes can scarcely be had at any price."
Father D. Flanagan says there are upwards of 4,000 people in the Robertstown Rathangan Edenderry Carbury region "living many of them in miserable sod hovels and endeavouring to exist on a few scanty meals of extremely bad potatoes. There is no employment no gentry to alleviate distress or sympathise with them."
In the patient neighbourhood of Robertstown, I see more immediately than many the wants of the people. My duties call me frequently amongst them. I witness therefore their distress and feel it keenly ...
April 29th From Co Limerick, Father James Walsh reports that 2,300 people are in need in the parishes of Kilready, Emlygrennan and Ahenessy, but local farmers have raised £165p buy meal by taxing themselves one shilling an acre.
The Rev C.B. Gibson says nearly half the 7,000 people of Mallow, Co Cork, are utterly destitute. The secretary of the Cobh relief committee requests help for 2,500 people surviving on one meal a day.
May 3rd In Co Wicklow the diarist, Elizabeth Smith, and her husband visit an elderly couple surviving on their son's labour, who earns six pence a day. His landlord keeps "the idle blackguard out of charity". Mrs Smith comments "Idle, who could be busy underfed, under clothed under housed, crushed body and soul by the extreme poverty."
May 4th "Mrs Kearns, a farmer's wife, brought us instead of their rent the most earnest supplication for food for the support of her family. She has one day's provision in the house."