A North Inis Eoghain Homestead in 1930
Taken from Our Inis Eoghain Heritage by Brian Bonner 1972

In General, historians and others concerned with the study and recording of the story of the nation have concerned themselves almost entirely with events of major national importance and with the people involved in them. Too little attention has been given to the life of the ordinary people. The so-called "ordinary people" not only constitute the majority of the citizens but are also the life and soul of the country. The throbbing pulse and the beating heart of the nation are found among the people who are concerned with the basics of living and surviving. These are in general the poor, the unknown and the downtrodden.

Anyone interested in the story of Ireland will note with dissatisfaction that practically nothing is known regarding the day to day life of the past generations. This lacuna is a permanent hurdle to a full understanding of the real effect of national events.

In this narrative an effort is made to record some aspects of the life of a typical North Inis Eoghain family during the thirties of the present century. A description of the house, the family and how the latter lived is set out. While removed from us by only one generation, the pace of change has been so great that the intervening forty years have effected a transformation greater than any previously caused by the lapse of a century or more.

THE HOUSE/THE ROOM

THE HEARTH

THE WELL

THE FAMILY

FOOD

EDUCATION

RELIGION

SOCIAL LIFE

BREAK-UP OF THE FAMILY/CONCLUSION

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