Ireland's “Big Houses” were the large country homes of local landlords. Most of them were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, and were usually surrounded by large estates. Tenants on the estate rented the land from their landlords. By the 1920s, the landlord system in Ireland had been dismantled. Increasing violence during the push for independence in the early 20th century, combined with the economic depression of the 1920s and 1930s, meant few families could afford the upkeep of these homes, and the era of the “Big House” ended.
Join us as we discuss this complicated history with historians and folklorists, Jane and Maurice O' Keeffe. And visit their website and podcast IrishLifeandLore.com to listen to their oral histories and view their other books.