From the Freeman’s Journal, 23/12/1846.

I proceeded yesterday, kindly accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Freeman to the united parishes of Durrus and Kilcrohane, more generally known as Four–Mile-Water a small village situate a short distance from Dunmanus Bay.  In the parish the amount of Government work provided is sufficient for the employment of little more than one thousand labourers – leaving fifteen hundred able bodied men, the ostensible supporters of families completely powerless for this purpose.  On making enquiries of the kind hearted and benevolent clergyman (the parish priest was Fr. Quinn, Church of Ire, William Moore Crosthwaite 1842-1854) as to the state of the labouring population, his reply was precisely ‘My dear Sir, no description, that I could give would for a moment adequately tell the misery, the wretchedness’ of my poor people – they are in a most frightful state of destitution that can possible be imagined. They are living…