Hi, I'm wondering if anyone out there has any information concerning the history of Valencia/Valentia Island? When I was in Ireland this past January, many of the locals told me that pre-famine, the population was in the thousands (4,000 seems to stand out for some reason) but that after the famine, the population dropped to about 400 - and was, in 1991, about 680. I have tried googling a history of the island, but really to no avail in terms of specific famine history - mostly I find information on the laying of the first trans-Atlantic cable (which is, in and of itself, very interesting, but not what I am looking for) :-). In any event, I'm wondering if anyone can verify the above claim about the population decrease, as well as any other information pertinent to the history of the island (particularly pre-famine to famine and slightly afterwards). Thanks. -A

Amanda, I remember a lot of discussion on this list about Valencia. It was maybe three years ago. I don't recall whether the discussion specifically addressed population and history, but you may want to check the list's archives. Genie Flahie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Amanda Clifford" <mave77@comcast.net> To: <IRL-KERRY@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 6:58 PM Subject: [IRL-KERRY] Valencia/Valentia > Hi, > > > > I'm wondering if anyone out there has any information concerning the > history > of Valencia/Valentia Island? > > > > When I was in Ireland this past January, many of the locals told me that > pre-famine, the population was in the thousands (4,000 seems to stand out > for some reason) but that after the famine, the population dropped to > about > 400 - and was, in 1991, about 680. > > > > I have tried googling a history of the island, but really to no avail in > terms of specific famine history - mostly I find information on the laying > of the first trans-Atlantic cable (which is, in and of itself, very > interesting, but not what I am looking for) :-). > > > > In any event, I'm wondering if anyone can verify the above claim about the > population decrease, as well as any other information pertinent to the > history of the island (particularly pre-famine to famine and slightly > afterwards). > > > > Thanks. > > > > -A > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-KERRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Amanda The population of Ireland in 1840, before the famine, was over 8,000,000. Mostly through emigration, the population decreased to less than 3,000,000 by 1971. Economic good fortune has finally reversed that long term decline and the population is pushing 4,000,000 now. The figures you have for Valentia don't sound particularly unusual. Many townlands lost all their population during the famine. Ray -----Original Message----- From: irl-kerry-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-kerry-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Amanda Clifford Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 5:58 PM To: IRL-KERRY@rootsweb.com Subject: [IRL-KERRY] Valencia/Valentia Hi, I'm wondering if anyone out there has any information concerning the history of Valencia/Valentia Island? When I was in Ireland this past January, many of the locals told me that pre-famine, the population was in the thousands (4,000 seems to stand out for some reason) but that after the famine, the population dropped to about 400 - and was, in 1991, about 680. I have tried googling a history of the island, but really to no avail in terms of specific famine history - mostly I find information on the laying of the first trans-Atlantic cable (which is, in and of itself, very interesting, but not what I am looking for) :-). In any event, I'm wondering if anyone can verify the above claim about the population decrease, as well as any other information pertinent to the history of the island (particularly pre-famine to famine and slightly afterwards). Thanks. -A ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-KERRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.10/943 - Release Date: 8/8/2007 5:38 PM