The Irish language was muted during the Great Hunger 1845-52. The Irish were renowned for their love of education and embraced the opportunity to have their children educated only to discover that their native language, if still spoken by the children, was banned from the 1/4 classroom. The introduction of the notorious ‘tally stick’ ensured that the students did not speak a single word of their home language in the hearing of newly appointed teachers who had no knowledge of Irish. A ‘tick’ was notched 2/4