If they were from County Mayo it is important to understand that this was a county in Ireland hit very badly by the famine.
In fact, when people come from Mayo and live in England the following is said to them by other Irish people:
Question "What part of Ireland are you from?"
Answer: "County Mayo."
Response: "God help you!"
This is because many emigrated from there due to the dire poverty.

It must have been awful. Thank you for your reply. Patsy