Description: Irish Hospitality

Date: August 9 1818

Newspaper published in: Washington, DC

Page/Column: Page 2

Irish Hospitality

On Monday last, James B. O'Sullivan, Esq., the respectable proprietor of the paper manufactory at Dripsey, near Cork, gave one of the most brilliant instances of Irish hospitality witnessed in this land of hospitality, for centuries. It was an agricultural festival. About 10 o'clock, 847 ploughs were in motion at the same hour and in the same field, which consisted of 110 acres, and completely ploughed up before 1 o'clock. Upwards of 12,000 men, women, and children were assembled, all plentifully regaled with porter, ale, &c. About 740 ladies and gentlemen were seated at the table to one of the most comfortable repasts ever prepared for such a large assemblage; in truth, the meat provided would sufficiently satisfy 3,000 persons. A puncheon of whiskey had been used in making punch, which was manufactured in a cauldron containing twelve or fourteen hogsheads. Fifteen hundred loaves of bread, immense quantities of beef and bacon, and forty or fifty tierces of porter were served out to the ploughmen and their attendants. Two bands were playing, besides pipers, fiddlers, &c. In short it would require more room than we can allow to record the wonders of this memorable feast. [Cork paper.]