VIDEO: Last children born in Deserted Village return home

THE last children born in the Deserted Village in Slievemore returned to Achill Island at the weekend for an emotional reunion, 71 years after leaving.

You can watch a video of the event on the What's On In Achill Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=664412830636649.

Prior to the famine, the population in the village was in the region of 1,700. It was used as a seasonal boley village until the early 20th century after almost all of its permanent residents left during the 1850s.

One family, the Callaghans, remained on until 1948

The last two surviving members of the family, Anthony Callaghan and his sister, Annie Ward, returned to Achill for a reunion with 50 other family members at the weekend, meeting up in their old house. Anthony currently lives in Glasgow while Annie lives in Donegal.

The younger members of the family had many questions and although Anthony was only six when he left he still has many vivid memories of his childhood.