The Kerry Girls: Emigration and the Earl Grey Scheme
As part of the controversial Earl Grey Scheme, this is the true story of the Kerry girls who were shipped to Australia from the four Kerry Workhouses of Dingle, Kenmare, Killarney and Listowel in 1849 and 1850.
Leaving behind scenes of destitution and misery, the girls, some of whom spoke only Irish, set off to the other side of the world without any idea of what lay ahead.
This book tells of the ‘selection’ and transportation to Australia of these Irish ‘Orphans’ their subsequent apprenticeship, and finally of their marriage and attempts to rebuild a life far from home.
Contents:
Acknowledgements
Introduction
- Background to the Famine in Kerry
- Life in the Workhouse
- Circumstances in Australia
- Workhouse Decisions
- Background to the girls
- Voyage and Arrival
- Working Life & Marriage in Australia
- Pawns in an Imperial Struggle?
Conclusion: An Opportunity or a Tragedy?
Appendix: Orphan Database
Notes, Bibliography, Index
AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON
Hello!
I am getting in touch regarding the Kerry Girls book. I am an Australian actor at The Lir Academy in Dublin and am in the beginning stages of working with other Irish creative collaborators on a theatre project for 2019/2020 that will focus on The Earl Grey Orphan Scheme and the girls who migrated to Australia. I would love to read The Kerry Girls to begin my research but am having trouble purchasing the book. Is there a way to purchase directly from you?
Thank you so much! :)
Emma, The History Press Ireland sell the book and its on Amazon. I have a few copies and I can let you have one but it will be Friday before i can access it and post as I am involved in local event here at the momen. If you would like me to do that, I can certainly do so then if you send me your postal address and I can send you a Paypal Invoice for €18.
Kay
Hi Kay,
My Names is Brenda Young and I am from Perth Western Australia my 3x great grandmother Mary Anne Barry arrived in Fremantle in 1953 on the ship Travancore, How would I find out about the workhouse or where s she was before hand. I have her Baptism record in Causeway Tralee her Parents names Edward Barry and Margaret Horgan and can you still get the book on Amazon .
Thanks in advance for your help,
Kind regards
Brenda Young
Brenda,a yes The Kerry Girls: Emigration and the Earl Grey Scheme is available on Amazon and is less expensive on the Book Depository. I didn’t deal with the girls who later went to Western Australia but Mary Barry is listed in John Pierce’s great history of the Famine – Teampall Bán, Aspects of the Famine in north Kerry 1845-1852. . Mary as you say was the daughter of Edward Barry and Margaret Horgan of Ardoughter, Ballyduff in the Civil Parish of Killury now known as Causeway. There is no way really to find out about the Workhouse, the Minutes of the Board of Guardians are in the local history section of the Kerry County Library Tralee but they merely state that the names of the girls and the arrangements. I think by reading my book and John Pierse’s you will get to understand the Workhouse and the high rate of deaths/evictions and emigration from this Barony of Clanmaurice.
Thank you very much for this information .Im doing the Bonnet for Mary Anne for the Bride ships for Dr Christina Henri . History will help me understand.
Kind regards
Brenda Young
Can you please tell me where I can get the John Pierce Book I have purchased your book but cannot find John’s Book listed
Kind regards
Brenda Young
Brenda, please email Brenda Woulfe at Woulfe’s Bookshop Listowel, mention that I have directed you there and you can order it. All proceeds go to the Listowel Tidy Towns Committee and it was published by Listowel Tidy Towns Committee in 2014.
Hi Kay
I have been doing family history research and could never find the family of my GG Grandmother Mary Ann Wynn. By chance I found reference to Mary Ann Win and possible sisters Eliza and Margaret on the ship Inconstant that sailed to Adelaide.
My research leads me to believe Mary Ann became a domestic servant to John Fidge and later married his son Frederick Fidge. Do you know how I could confirm.
Your name and book was recommended to me by the National Libary when I was in Dublin a few years ago.
Lindsay I replied by email to you. Kay