Rural Society
/Collections/Agriculture/Feeding-hens,-Co-Armagh-farmhouse.aspx)
Up to the late 19th century most farmers in Ireland were tenant farmers on landed estates and part of their farm produce went to pay the rent. Failure to pay could lead to eviction; the fear and threat of eviction often resulted in conflict between landlord and tenant.
The landlords were members of the Anglo Irish Ascendency and Gentry classes, established church or one of several state encouraged institutional bodies. There were also many large to medium farms owned by the lesser gentry or rented by ‘strong farmers’ - wealthy farmers.
However, there were also many tiny farm holdings which were often the result of earlier subdivision, where farmers sought to give each son a parcel of land. In some western localities the practice of ‘rundale’ was followed, whereby several families would lease land together, divide it into strips which were periodically redistributed between them.
![Click to enlarge: The McHugh brothers, Hornhead, Co Donegal, 1982 with the sugan [straw harness collar].jpg](http://img5.nmni.com/Images/UM-What-s-On-(1)/Collections/Agriculture/The-McHugh-brothers,-Hornhead,-Co-Donegal,-1982-wi.aspx)
In Ulster, small farms were very common, partly as a consequence of a successful linen industry which allowed the development of a dual economy of part time farmers and linen workers. For the rural poor living on holdings of an acre or less, life was a hard struggle and this was the group which suffered most during the years of Great Famine, 1845 -1847.
Ask an Expert
If you would like further information about this collection you may contact the
curator by following this link and
completing the short form.