Great Famine of Ireland

The Great Famine, or the Great Hunger (Irish: an Gorta Mór), was a catastrophic period of starvation and disease in Ireland lasting from 1845 to 1852, which had profound effects on Irish society and history. The famine was most devastating in the western and southern regions where the Irish language was dominant, and contemporaneously it was referred to in Irish as an Drochshaol, meaning "the bad life." The peak of the famine occurred in 1847, infamously known as "Black '47." During this period, approximately 1 million people died and over 1 million emigrated, leading to a population decline of 20–25%.

The immediate cause of the famine was the infestation of potato crops by the blight Phytophthora infestans, which spread throughout Europe in the 1840s. This blight led to the deaths of around 100,000 people outside Ireland and contributed to the unrest of the 1848 European Revolutions. In Ireland, the impact was exacerbated by underlying issues such as the system of absentee landlordism and heavy reliance on a single crop—the potato. Initially, there were some government efforts to alleviate the distress, but these were cut short by a new Whig administration in London that favored laissez-faire economic policies and was influenced by beliefs in divine providence and a prejudiced view of the Irish character.

The British government’s inadequate response included failing to stop large food exports from Ireland, a policy that had been enacted during previous famines. This decision was a significant point of contention and contributed to growing anti-British sentiment and the push for Irish independence. The famine also led to widespread evictions, exacerbated by policies that barred those with more than a quarter acre of land from receiving workhouse aid.

The famine profoundly altered Ireland’s demographic landscape, leading to a permanent population decline and the creation of an extensive Irish diaspora. It also intensified ethnic and sectarian tensions and fueled nationalism and republicanism in Ireland and among Irish emigrants. The famine is remembered as a critical point in Irish history, symbolizing betrayal and exploitation by the British government. This legacy played a significant role in the increasing demand for Irish independence.

The potato blight returned to Europe in 1879, but the socio-political landscape in Ireland had changed significantly due to the Land War, an agrarian movement led by the Land League that began in response to the earlier famine. The League's campaign for tenant rights, including fair rents, fixity of tenure, and free sale, mitigated the impact of the blight when it returned. Actions such as boycotting landlords and preventing evictions reduced homelessness and deaths compared to the earlier famine.

The famine has left a lasting impact on Irish cultural memory, shaping the identity of both those who remained in Ireland and the diaspora. Debates continue over the terminology used to describe this period, with some arguing that "Great Hunger" more accurately reflects the complexity of the events. The famine remains a poignant symbol of suffering and a catalyst for Irish nationalism, underscoring the strained relationship between Ireland and Britain that persisted into the twentieth century.