Colm Tóibín, acclaimed Irish novelist and journalist, dives into the legacy of the Great Famine and its impact on Irish identity. He discusses the journey of famine refugees boarding 'coffin ships' and their shift in labor preferences upon arriving in America. Tóibín examines how Irish emigration laid the groundwork for powerful communities in cities like Boston and New York, influencing American politics today. The conversation also touches on the complex relationship between historical trauma and Irish nationalism, showcasing how these narratives resonate even in contemporary culture.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Famine Accounts
William Forster, a Quaker, described the Irish during the famine as walking skeletons.
People were so desperate they resembled famished dogs, crying with pain and ravenous hunger.
insights INSIGHT
Irish Landscape and Famine Denial
The Irish landscape, with fertile valleys and barren bogs, allowed for simultaneous food exports and starvation.
This proximity of wealth and poverty enabled denial of the famine's severity.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Jeremiah Hegarty's Sacrifice
Jeremiah Hegarty starved himself to avoid eviction, prioritizing rent over food.
Others resorted to stealing livestock, leading farmers to create brutal traps.
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The novel tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young woman from small-town Ireland who, in the hard years following World War II, leaves her fragile mother and charismatic sister behind to start a new life in Brooklyn. Sponsored by an Irish priest, Eilis finds work in a department store and begins evening classes in bookkeeping. She faces homesickness and culture shock but eventually finds love with Tony, an Italian-American. However, devastating news from Ireland forces her to make a critical decision between her old and new lives. The book is a quiet tour de force, exploring themes of self-determination, love, and the complexities of immigrant life.
The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
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James Joyce
James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the intellectual and artistic development of Stephen Dedalus, a young man growing up in Dublin at the turn of the 20th century. The novel explores Stephen's journey of self-discovery, his struggles with religious faith, and his burgeoning artistic ambitions. Joyce's masterful use of language and stream-of-consciousness technique captures the complexities of Stephen's inner life, his emotional turmoil, and his artistic awakening. The novel is considered a masterpiece of modernist literature, its themes of self-discovery and artistic creation continue to resonate with readers today. It's a coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of identity and artistic expression.
The legacy of the Great Famine continues to shape not only Ireland, but the Irish diaspora in America, Canada, and the UK. In the mid-1800s, starving families fled the country in search of survival, gathering at the docks to board “coffins ships” sailing to Liverpool and the east coast of the USA. When “the famine Irish” arrived in America they resented the idea of ever doing rural work again, and sought work in the police, in bars, and in the fire brigade. Irish communities centred around Boston, New York, and Philadelphia developed into powerful Irish congresses in politics. How does the legacy of famine emigration continue to shape American politics today?
Listen as William and Anita are joined once again by writer and historian Colm Tóibín to discuss the Great Famine and how it shaped post-modern Irishness, from the cheekiness of The Beatles to Donald Trump’s cabinet.
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