The West of Ireland Cottage Industry Appeal for Support to the Irish People at Home and Abroad, 30th April 1883. IE TCD MS 9370/871

IE TCD MS 9370/871: Appeal written by Michael Davitt entitled 'The West of Ireland Cottage Industry Appeal for Support to the Irish People at Home and Abroad'; dated as 30th April 1883: "The West of Ireland Cottage Industry was started last Autumn. The object of its promoters was to extend relief through the channel of light employment to members of evicted families in Carraroe, Co. Galway, and thereby serve the double beneficial purpose of keeping women & young girls away from the demoralisation of the workhouse and enabling their families to remain where the evictors had resolved to banish them from their homes. Through the able management and untiring exertions of the lady superintendent, Miss Ada Yeates, what was, at first, but a cover for charity, has now become a permanent course of remunerative and instructive occupation to numbers who would otherwise be compelled to leave Ireland per force of "State aided emigration". The industry, consequent upon an increasing demand for the goods manufactured, is extending to other parts of the western counties, and will, it is hoped, soon embrace the making of useful and ornamental articles that will provide work for both men and women. The patronage of the Irish people at home and (as far as possible) abroad would render this Cottage Industry a standing means of subsistence to large numbers of the afflicted in the distressed districts while it will confer, among other [services?], the following benefits upon the [?] portions of the west of Ireland: 1st. The C.I. possesses special claims as being a means calculated to make our people, in time, independent alike of the mercy of the landlord and the charity of the [world?], on both of which they have been too prone [?], in the past. 2nd. It will train to habits of alternative industry numbers who have hitherto been dependent upon a single & precarious means of employment. 3rd. It will stimulate Irish manufactures. 4th. It will be the means of keeping in Ireland members of our people among whom the Irish tongue is most spoken and thus frustrate, to some extent, the "humane" efforts of those agencies of extermination that are now employed in depopulating [?] of our national language. Already sale is being obtained, both in Ireland and in England, for the undermentioned articles; and favourable mention of their [?manship?] was made at the awarding of prizes during the recent national industrial exhibition. It is intended to forward exhibits to the forthcoming industrial exhibition at Boston as also to the exhibition whichi is shortly to open in the city of Cork. Friends & sympathisers in England, Scotland, the United States, Canada, Australia, & New Zealand can aid this cottage industry movement by either patronage in the way of orders for the goods manufactured or though subscriptions towards the encouragement of this effort to effect an industrial revival in systematically impoverished Ireland. The promoters of bazaars, fancy fairs, and prize drawings for religious, charitable or other purposes in these countries can add to the attractiveness of such undertaking by the purchase of useful and ornamental needle and other work from Miss Yeates and [?] assist its effort of sustaining our poor people in their endeavours to win by their skill and industry the privilege of remaining in their homes in Ireland... All orders with cash enclosed and addressed to Miss Ada Yeates, Carraroe, Co. Galway will be punctually attended to while the Most Reverend Dr. Duggan Lord Bishop of Clonfert, Loughrea, Co. Galway has kindly consented to receive the donations of those who may be desirious of helping the Cottage Industry by their subscription. Ladies [?] desirious of cooperating in this laudable work can do so most effectively by wearing one or more of the articles manufactured by this industry and canvassing for orders, when opportunity offers, from those who would be likely to take a practical interest in so wrothy an enterprise... If the movement meets with a sufficient measure of success to warrant the undertaking a class for the better instruction of young girls in housekeeping duties will be established in connection with each district in which a branch of the C.I. is working. Michael Davitt, Dublin, April 30th 1883."

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