This is the story of a remarkable man's efforts to help starving people during the Irish Great Famine. It reveals their terrible experiences inside and outside one of the national 'workhouses' and throws new light on the relationship between class, religion, and poverty in Ireland before independence.

John O'Sullivan (1807-1874) was an independent-minded priest who clashed with bishops and landlords. He kept journals that have not been published. The author mines these and other sources, including eyewitness accounts, UK archives and Kerry's workhouse minutes, for new insights into aspects of Irish society, including politics, proselytism, and the status of women.