The famine was caused by the potato blight, a funguslike organism which quickly destroyed the. The irish famine is a book written by diarmaid ferriter and colm toibin. New world encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the wikipedia article in accordance with new world encyclopedia standards. Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed. The potato plant solanum tuberosum is a member of the solanaceae, or nightshade, family, a family of flowering plants that also includes the eggplant, mandrake, deadly nightshade or belladonna, tobacco, tomato, and petunia. A novel of irish exile and the great irish famine the irish famine series book.
The famine was due to the appearance of the blight also known as phytophthorathe potato fungus that almost. The bad life followed a catastrophic period of irish history between 1845 and 1852 during which time the population of ireland was reduced by 50 percent. The defining novel of the great irish famine the irish famine series, book 1 of 3 by charles. Long before the potato blight forced thousands from their homeland, irish emigration to the new world had increased signi. A large stone wall with the names of people known to have died in the famine was designed in 1932 and is currently on display at the dublin museum of irish misery, the largest museum in the world. The potato was the staple food of ireland at the time, with most of the population relying on it for much of their diet.
The irish potato famine t he irish potato famine as it is known outside of ireland or great famine as it is referred to within ireland was an incidence of mass starvation that was stimulated by a natural cause i. The irish working class lived largely on the unpalatable but fertile lumper, and. The irish potato famine foundation for economic education. The famine is also called the great potato famine or the great irish famine. The pitiless epic of the irish famine diaspora the irish famine series, book 2 of 3 by charles egan 4. The history of the irish potato famine during the mid19th century. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. The 20 books every irish american should read the new. The irish potato famine dealt a devastating blow to landless labor in ireland but contributed an important element to the wagelabor force in the rest of the englishspeaking world. In the century before the great famine of the late 1840s, the irish people, and the poor especially, became increasingly dependent on the potato for their food. Irish potato famine facts for kids kiddle encyclopedia. The irish potato famine industrial revolution starting a business better life new books clogs clever historian.
Listen to the mp3 audio version of this commentary british prime minister tony blair apologized for doing too little in response to the irish potato famine of the 19th century that killed one million people and brought about the emigration of millions more. The irish potato famine was written by philip gavin ba northeastern university, ms boston university founder and publisher of the history place, and was first. Primary research and sources historic documents essentia. Jul 17, 2017 a girls haunting struggle for survival during the irish potato famine by jon. This article originally appeared in the free market, april 1998.
The great famine, great hunger, or great famine is the name given to the famine in ireland between 1845 and 1852. The following is a list of famous irish american books, including irish american fiction, irish american biographies, and irish american history. Great famine, famine that occurred in ireland in 184549 when the potato crop failed in successive years. The potato is a tuber a short, thick, underground stem with stored starches and sugars of the potato plant. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Some have complained about the exhausting list of people with surnames starting with the. A single devastating event, however, looms large in the irish history of potatoesthe irish potato famine. Between 1815 and 1845, 800,000 to 1,000,000 irish emigrated to north america. The great famine also referred to as the great hunger, that lasted between 1845 and 1849 was arguably the single greatest disaster that affected the irish history the famine was caused by the potato blight fungus that was inadvertently brought over initially from north america to mainland europe and had eventually made its way to ireland during the summer of 1845. Its starchy tubers stem thickened for use as a storage organ, called potatoes, are one of the world s most commonly grown and important food crops. Irish potato famine simple english wikipedia, the free.
The crisis that began in 1845 was not irelands first potato famine. Donnelly jr this is an account of the great irish potato famine of the late 1840s, a famine which resulted in the death of about one million people and was also largely. The crop failures were caused by late blight, a disease that destroys both the leaves and the edible roots, or tubers, of the potato plant. Great famine, also called irish potato famine, great irish famine, or famine of 184549, famine that occurred in ireland in 184549 when the potato crop failed in successive years. The great irish famine was a turning point in history. The irish potato famine killed one million people and led 2. An 1851 census reported that the potato crop had failed in some degree at least 24 times since 1739 woodhamsmith, p. The history of this article since it was imported to new world encyclopedia. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Mar 04, 2020 the great famine or the great hunger gaelic.
Every summer more than two million people went hungry until the new crop came in woodhamsmith, p. The defining novel of the great irish famine the irish famine series paperback october. Buy a cheap copy of the great irish potato famine book by james s. The 19th centurys refugee crisis more than 150 years ago, it was the irish who were refugees forced into exile by a humanitarian and political disaster. The great famine was the single deadliest disaster in irish history, and its effects can still be felt today. The potato and the great irish famine dublin, 1993, p. Oldest known photograph of irish famine survivor from 1853 revealed in new exhibit. The great irish famine was a turning point for ireland and america. Oflaherty was not the first irish writer to note how quiet the irish countryside got in 1849, but he used it to best effect. Need another excuse to treat yourself to new book this week. See more ideas about irish, potato famine and irish famine. Id say the best general history of the famine period is james s.
It changed irish society forever, most strikingly by greatly reducing the population. Two new books rekindle the debate about whether britains role can be considered genocide. Mar 28, 2002 this is an account of the great irish potato famine of the late 1840s, a famine which resulted in the death of about one million people and was also largely responsible, in conjunction with british government policies, for one of the great international human migrations of british history the mass exodus of some two million people from. Opinion irish potato famine didnt just happen the new. Joseph r oneill presents the history of ireland leading up to the famine, key players and happenings during the famine, and the events effect on society. In the 1840s, a major outbreak of potato blight, a plant disease caused by a fungus, swept through europe, wiping out the potato crop in many countries.
This is an account of the great irish potato famine of the late 1840s, a famine which resulted in the death of about one million people and was also largely responsible, in conjunction with british government policies, for one of the great international human migrations of british historythe mass exodus of some two million people from. Nov 25, 2014 the irish potato famine looks at the history of the great famine and what it produced. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The event is sometimes referred to as the irish potato famine, mostly outside ireland. The history and legacy of the mass starvation in ireland during the 19th century 9781503386969 by charles river editors and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Irish potato famine project gutenberg selfpublishing. The history and legacy of the mass starvation in ireland during the 19th century large print by charles river editors isbn. This is an account of the great irish potato famine of the late 1840s, a famine which resulted in the death of about one million people and was also largely responsible, in conjunction with british government policies, for one of the great international human migrations of british history the mass exodus of some two million people from. Prefamine irish in vermont, 18151844 on the eve of the immense migration of irish spawned by the great famine of the late 1840s there was already a signi. Outside ireland, it is usually called the irish potato famine. In 1845, in ireland, the potato crops were failing and potato plants were turning black and rotten. The food gap created by the loss of the potato in the late 1840s was so enormous that it could not have been filled through preventing grain export james donnelly, the great irish potato famine sutton, 2001, p. The worst famine to occur in europe in the 19th century was the irish potato famine, which resulted in the deaths of about one million people. May 27, 2010 the 20 books every irish american should read by brigid cahalan may 27, 2010 image id.
Irish dendrochronologist mike baillie confirmed tree ring patterns in 1740 that were consistent with severe cold. The 20 books every irish american should read by brigid cahalan may 27, 2010. Irish immigrants arrive in america 18451850 spotlight on immigration and migration. Sep 01, 2008 this is an account of the great irish potato famine of the late 1840s, a famine which resulted in the death of about one million people and was also largely responsible, in conjunction with british government policies, for one of the great international human migrations of british historythe mass exodus of some two million people from ireland, mostly to north america, in the years 18451855. Irish literature irish nationalism and the great potato. The crop failures were caused by late blight, a disease that destroys both the leaves. Irish potato famine students britannica kids homework help. Memorials for the potato famine have since been established. This article abides by terms of the creative commons ccbysa 3. The irish potato famine and the population and social trends through the great irish potato famine was during a period of mass starvation. The 20 books every irish american should read the new york. By vincent edward feeney n the summer of 1832, nathaniel hawthorne, then an unknown writer, visited burlington. It was given its botanical name, solanum tuberosum, in 1596 by the swiss botanist gaspard bauhin, and belongs to the solanaceae family, the nightshades, which includes eggplant, peppers, and the tomato.
The irish potato famine irish famine van diemens land first fleet irish immigrants irish american irish celtic historical pictures political cartoons. So when potato blight struck, causing the tubers to rot in the ground, they suffered a grievous loss. Most irish americans i know think of the famine this way. The irish potato famine and its aftermath, 18451849 brewminate. Later famines had minimal effect and are generally forgotten, except by historians. These, however, coincided with the greatest catastrophe experienced by the irish people. The famine was caused by the potato blight, a funguslike organism which quickly destroyed the potatoes in ireland, and throughout europe. The proximate cause of the famine was a natural event, a potato blight, which infected potato crops throughout europe during the 1840s, also causing some 100,000 deaths outside ireland and influencing much of the unrest in the widespread european revolutions of 1848. A girls haunting struggle for survival during the irish potato famine by jon.
A girls haunting struggle for survival during the irish. Thank you so much mr egan, for all your research and i imagine your lifes work. The book is in two volumes, the first of which was written and originally published by toibin in 1999. The year 1741, during which the famine was at its worst and mortality was greatest, was known in folk memory as the year of the slaughter or bliain an air in irish. In step with developments elsewhere in europe, ireland in the mid19th century saw renewed expressions of nationalism. Thus began a catastrophe in which approximately one million people lost their lives and many more left ireland for north america. I solemnly call upon you to recollect that i predict with the sincerest conviction that a quarter of her population will perish unless you come to her relief. As for famine fiction, eugene mccabes tales from the poorhouse 1999 should not be missed by anyone with an interest in the subject literary fiction, highly recommended. Rating is available when the video has been rented.
The decimation of the potato crop in the 1840s brought on the. The irish potato famine, also known as the great hunger, began in 1845 when a funguslike organism called phytophthora infestans or p. An gorta mor or an drochshaol, known more commonly outside of ireland as the irish potato famine, is the name given to the famine that occurred in ireland between 1845 and 1849. Irish immigrants arrive in america 18451850 spotlight on immigration and. The second volume, written by ferriter, is entitled the capricious growth of a single root and was added in 2001. Worldcat is the world s largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online. The irish potato famine, which in ireland became known as the great hunger, was a turning point in irish history. I had heard of the irish potato famine and knew a little irish history, however, this really brought the whole. The potato remained irelands staple crop after the famine. The stories of those who lived through and died in the irish potato famine of the 1840s. Irish potato famine 18451849 new world encyclopedia.
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