On September 16, 1937, ten young male seasonal potato-gatherers from Achill Island, aged 13-23, perished in a devastating fire in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, Scotland. The group had arrived the previous evening and were housed in a bothy, a makeshift sleeping quarter. The fire, believed to be caused by an overloaded stove, trapped the workers as the door was padlocked and windows netted. This tragedy brought to light the harsh and often dangerous conditions endured by thousands of Irish seasonal workers in Scotland, prompting calls for improved accommodation standards and worker safety.
