June 16th, 1846: The "King of Connemara" fails to help his subjects. John Smith, of Celerna, Clifden, informs the Relief Commission that the principal landowner of the region, Thomas Barnewall Martin MP, has refused to subscribe to the relief fund.
The Famine is tearing away the veil of romance surrounding the patriarchal Martins, who are bankrupt after generations of high living and the collapse of agricultural prices in the post-Napoleonic era.
Their estate comprises 196,540 acres. Thomas Martin, a son of "Humanity Dick", was called the King of Connemara in the days when visitors to Ballynahinch Castle included Maria Edgeworth and Thackeray.
The secretary of the Clifden relief committee says "many families are now bordering on starvation reduced to one meal in the 24 hours, and even this procured with difficulty and only by resorting to the pawn office". There is a sufficient supply of food in the district but the poor have not the means to purchase it.
June 17th: Father Roche, CC Clifden, states that he attended a sick woman (Widow Byrne) who has since died. It can proved on oath that she died of starvation. John D'Arcy, secretary of the local committee, reports dreadful destitution.
June 21st: Sir James Dombrain, Inspector General of the Coast Guard, reports crisis conditions along the coast of Galway and Mayo. He disputes the assertion of Sir Randolph Routh, chairman of the Relief Commission, that the food scarcity is part of the annual cycle of distress along the western seaboard.
Constabulary Sub-inspector John Bindon Corbet Ballinrobe, reports an attempt by a group of "distressed paupers" to gain access to public works.
Indian meal to feed 12,000 daily is required by Killarney relief committee. Killorglin relief committee appeals for assistance to prevent mass starvation.
The number employed on roads by the Office of Public Works has soared to 127,000. Projects are under way in 15 counties, but by far the greatest concentration of labourers - 47,972 - is at work in Clare, where irregularities are reported in their payment; 150 men force themselves on to relief works in Ballyvaughan.
Col Harry Jones, OPW commissioner, complains that the surveyor of the Shannon works at Drumsna, Co Leitrim, could get only 150 of the 1,200 labourers required because relief committees are issuing work tickets indiscriminately and encouraging sloth.
The Mayo county surveyor, Henry Brett, complains that Hollymount relief committee has approved 670 labourers to work on the Ballyglass mail coach road instead of the 300 agreed.
Col Arthur Knox Gore, of Belleek Manor, Ballina, says he cannot answer for the consequences if relief works are not provided for the destitute poor between Newport and Achill Island.