In February 1847, Cork Artist James O'Mahony ( 1810-79) was commissioned by the Illustrated London News to visually report on conditions in West Cork, his illustrations awaked the British middle-classes to the dreadful reality of a famine raged Ireland. This in turn promoted a wave of generosity from the British public in early 1847. O'Mahony also took notes on his assignment describing the misery he encountered. We came to Clonakilty and here for the first time the horrors of the poverty became visible Amongst them was a woman carrying her arms the corpse of a fine child and making the most distressing appeal... 'Unconffin'd, unshrouded, his bleak corpse they bore, >From the spot where he died on the cabins wet floor, To a hole which they dug in the garden close by: Thus a brother hath died, thus a Christian must lie! 'Twas a horrible end a harrowing tale, To chill the strong heart- to strike revelry pale No desease o'er this victim could mastery claim, 'Twas Famine alone mark'd his skeleton frame! This piece of prose whilst stark does clearly point out that the amount of people buried in the famine times, who will have no headstones to mark their last resting place. Sad to say the least Cara