Conway Mill Trust

The Irish government has designated May 22-23, 2010 to remember the victims of The Great Hunger. People of Irish heritage are asked to participate at masses and other memorial services. Over a million people died from starvation and disease in 1845-1849, and over a million more were forced to emigrate in a country with a population of only 8 million. A potato blight struck in 1845, leavng most of the peasant population without their main food supply. (Most other things grown on the farms were given to the landlords.) Subsequent blights devastated Ireland while oats, wheat, cattle, eggs, etc. were shipped to England. The policy of “laissez-faire” or non-government interference was followed as the people died of fled in “coffin ships” to other lands. Let us respect their memory.

Tags: The Great Hunger