IRISH AID TO SETTLERS

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 10, 11 December 1931, Page 3

IRISH AID TO SETTLERS

The Irish Free State Government has completed an ambitious plan to give much-needed aid to the distressed fisherfolk of the islands of Inishkea. Situated four miles off the coast of County Mayo, the islands in wild winter weather are frequently cut off from all communication with the mainland for several months of the year, and the islanders, all of whom are Gaelic, suffer great hardship. Now they are to be provided with comfortable homes and farms on the mainland at Blacksod in County Mayo, where through the efforts of the Land Commission, a 400-acre

estate has been acquired. This land is to be divided among the islanders in farms of five or six acres, and grazing lettings have boe i provided for them as a temporary expedient. This does does not mean that the old home will be lost to them, as the settlers will be allowed to retain the ownership of their old lands. A free grant of £2OO will be made to each migrant for the erection of houses on the new farms, and the tenants will assist in the work of building. ! The only way to find out whether j a cow was a profitable one or not is to keep a regular account of what she produces.