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St Francis' Primary School, Castlewellan

P4/5 Visit to Newry and Mourne Museum

21st Nov 2023

We have been learning all about the Great Irish Famine as our World Around Us topic.

During our visit we looked at a collection of artefacts relating to the economic hardships in the local area during the 19th century. These hardships were particularly tough during the Irish Famine from 1845-1852.

The children we given the opportunity to dress up as workhouse inmates and they were given a list of rules and regulations, as well as taking part in lessons from the Master of the workhouse. The children wrote their times tables on slate boards, the boys picked Oakum and the girls were taught how to sew. The children also learned what sort of food they would have got in a typical day and how much of it. During a tour following this, children got the opportunity to dress up as members of the local gentry.