Empire

236. The Great Famine: The Blight Strikes Ireland (Ep 1)

Mar 11, 2025

Colm Tóibín, a renowned writer and historian known for his works like Brooklyn, dives deep into the Great Famine's lasting impact on Irish identity. He discusses how the potato blight devastated families, leading to mass starvation and evictions. Tóibín highlights the neglect from British authorities, particularly Charles Trevelyan's misguided policies, and the moral dilemmas faced during this crisis. The conversation also touches on how this tragic event shaped nationalism and cultural memory in Ireland, influencing literature and societal narratives.

43:25

Episode guests

Colm Tóibín

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The Great Famine's cultural impact instilled a lasting sense of fatalism in Irish identity, influencing music and storytelling today.

The British government's inadequate response and policies during the famine exposed a deeper social disparity, emphasizing varied survivor experiences.

Deep dives

Cultural Impact of the Great Famine

The Great Famine, also known as the Irish Potato Famine, significantly shaped Irish cultural identity, instilling a sense of fatalism in the national psyche. The podcast discusses how this tragic event is reflected in Irish music, poetry, and folklore, forming a cultural memory that continues to resonate today. For many, the trauma of the famine is perceived as a persistent legacy impacting contemporary Irish life, influencing attitudes and storytelling. However, it is argued that the narrative of victimhood oversimplifies the complex social dynamics of the time, including the survival of diverse groups amid widespread suffering.

Intro

2min

The Great Famine: Resilience and Cultural Memory

15min

The Blight That Devoured Ireland

5min

The Great Famine: Neglect and Class Bias

17min

The Plight of the Dispossessed: Evictions, Coffin Ships, and a Rising Nationalism

3min

Exploring the Great Famine: Policy, Poverty, and the Human Cost

6min

How did the memory of the Great Famine shape Irish identity? Could it have been prevented?

From 1845 to 1852, a disease decimated potato crops across Ireland. Farmers of small plots who relied entirely on this monoculture were launched into complete destitution. Desperate families were evicted from their homes and suffered through starvation.

British public policy offered limited assistance, such as workhouses and public works schemes. But people who were used to hunkering down inside during winter had no warm clothes now suddenly had to work outside in freezing conditions to earn their way. Charles Trevelyan, was put in charge of handling the famine and repeatedly promoted “self-reliance”, describing the catastrophe as a “judgement of God sent to teach the Irish a lesson”. Approximately 1 million people died of disease or starvation, and around 2 million people emigrated, causing huge societal shifts that changed Ireland forever.

Listen as Anita and William are joined by writer and historian Colm Tóibín, author of Brooklyn and Long Island, and co-author of The Irish Famine, to discuss the impact of the Great Hunger on Ireland.

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Assistant Producer: Becki Hills

Producer: Anouska Lewis

Senior Producer: Callum Hill

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