Reading some Irish history this morning. I need to look at explaining things though to really understand them.
O’Grada’s opening chapter deals with marriage rates and trying to infer Irelands population growth in the shadow of some Malthusian apocalypse where population keeps growing despite lowering standards of living. The Malthusian model had two relations. The return on labour is function of the land/labour ration. Increases in population are a function of income, the higher the income, the earlier the marriage, more children. It seems that a viewpoint taken on Ireland was that marriage was a ‘welcome relief’ from poverty so that young marriages persisted despite declining income. O’Grada points to evidence that seems to combat this literary sources are often counter to statistical evidence.
Poverty was somewhat mitigated by the prevalence of turf and the potato. Such that people maintained decent health and warmth despite tattered clothing. There was a lot of rural poverty though.
Theres an interesting tension in my engagement with Irish history. A foundation to the Irish people is the arts. But so much of the emotion conveyed in Irish song is one of nationalism. I found this nice song, based on a poem. Maybe engaging with the poetry can help.
I will find Solace A short while only Among relatives On a sea island Walking the stone beach Morning and evening When I am not praying In the west I will find Solace A short while only Among relatives Without sorrow Without mind worry Without loneliness Without confusion In the west