The Horrors of the Irish Famine

To those living in 19th century Ireland, it was believed the blight was caused by some hideous, cursed fog that rolled in from the ocean. Even respected and trusted members of the clergy propagated this idea which must have absolutely terrified the local populace. The Illustrated London News commissioned Irish artist James Mahoney to create a series of sketches depicting the horror and scale of the disaster. Today, his horrific account remains one of the most powerful records of the famine.