The German Refugees of Limerick, by Jody Clarke
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What historical backdrop sets the stage for the German refugees in Limerick?
The roads are made for lonely wandering. Taking the walking trail from Church Town to Balihura Heavy sheaths of rain fall sideways from round grey clouds. They loiter angrily. Blotting the morning sunlight from the sleepy townlands below. The street lights come on at eight twenty five. They go off again at eight twenty six. It would be a wicked morning. Pushing on through frightening weather, into the wild dreary mountains and furious wind.
How did John Wesley’s visits to the Golden Vale influence the local community?
John Wesley crossed these roads several times on his evangelizing missions to Ireland. On six occasions the founder of Methodism made a point of travelling here to Limerick. Not just anywhere in the county. But to the small group of towns in the Golden Vale. That rich vein of pasture land that stretches out before me like crumpled bedsheets. He arrived on horseback, as was his custom. Speaking out of doorways to everyone and anyone, regardless of who they were. On one of those occasions, in seventeen sixty five, He found himself preaching to a group of people in the town of Kilfinan
Why did the Palatine Germans flee the Rhine region and end up in 18th‑century Ireland?
Taking up position at the market house. He writes in his journal that nigh on all the town came out to see him. Irish, English, and oddly enough, Germans. Over two hundred and sixty years later, the words still stick out at the page. Germans in eighteenth century Limerick. Hanging about a small rural town, listening to an Englishman give his take on the Bible. These were not just any Germans, of course, but Palatines. Ordinary everyday people who through no fault of their own were forced to flee the land around the Rhine River in the eighteenth century One war after another, followed by religious persecution and famine,
What were the British press and public’s reactions to the arrival of German refugees?
Force them to flee north to the Netherlands and eventually London, in the promise of a better future for themselves and their families. No one held out much hope for them. The British press said they would add nothing to the nation's prosperity. But instead reduce work and wages for their British counterparts. They only spread disease, and if given the opportunity would exploit the generosity of the good British public and who had been kind hearted enough in allowing the refugees build camps in Blackheath and Camberwell in the southeast corner of London. One pamphlet at a time declared that charity ought to begin at home, both in peace and war. asserting that Britain should help her own numerous poor before taking in those from other countries.
In the end.
How did the German families integrate into the Balihura valleys and shape local agriculture?
The British sent three thousand or so to the new colonies in North America. They also sent another two thousand to Ireland. Manny moved on again. But about one hundred and thirty families came and stayed in the valleys around the Balihura Mountains. Where they were invited by the local landlord to take up small plots of unoccupied land. They must have made for a peculiar looking bunch. They were dark yellow in complexion, dressed entirely in canvas, and ate a peculiar preparation of cabbage called sauerkraut, says one account at the time. However, they were also steady, sober, and industrious, wrote the historian P. W.
What parallels can be drawn between 18th‑century refugee attitudes and today’s response to displaced peoples?
Joyce. who was taken aback by the skills they brought with them. He says they were good farmers, understood gardening, kept bees, and were fond of pastry making. Death, emigration and the inevitable absorption of small groups of people has seen away with many, though not all, of the Barkmans, Fiffs, Switzers, Altons, Altimes, and Ruttles who came here and put down roots. Their stories are gone. But the reasons of force them to flee have not. When we turn on our own TVs and radios, or scroll through the news on our smartphones and tablets, Similar attitudes of indifference and fear now stalk people fleeing wars and famine today. The next time we see them. Perhaps it's worth thinking of those strange people who settled into life in East Limerick over two hundred years ago.
Bringing with them nothing more offensive than some interesting tasting cabbage,
a
fondness for apple tarts. And the dream of a future for themselves and their loved ones they brought with them.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What historical backdrop sets the stage for the German refugees in Limerick?
0:00–0:32
2
How did John Wesley’s visits to the Golden Vale influence the local community?
0:32–1:12
3
Why did the Palatine Germans flee the Rhine region and end up in 18th‑century Ireland?
1:12–1:55
4
What were the British press and public’s reactions to the arrival of German refugees?
1:55–2:43
5
How did the German families integrate into the Balihura valleys and shape local agriculture?
2:43–3:22
6
What parallels can be drawn between 18th‑century refugee attitudes and today’s response to displaced peoples?
3:22–4:23