Monordreigh House

When the potato crop failed in 1845, Margaret Beale and her friends set up a soup kitchen and Joseph Beale converted his woollen mills at Monordreigh into a flour mill which processed Indian corn for the staving locals. This, also, provided employment for his workers throughout the famine but resulted in financial ruin for Joseph Beale. He was forced to leave Ireland for Australia in 1852. Two of his children accompanied him leaving Margaret behind with six of their children.

Industrialist Joseph Beale’s transition to road labour in Australia caused him hardship and difficulties. By 1854 Margaret and family managed to join him. Three years later, Joseph Beale died, aged 56. Margaret died in 1878 at the age of 69.