Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning Famine, plague and slaughters: Ireland and The Great Hunger with historian Padraic X Scanlan
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Jun 14, 2025 Historian Padraic X Scanlan, author of 'Rot,' delves into the political and economic causes of the Irish famine, revealing how colonialism transformed a potato failure into a devastating crisis. He discusses figures like Charles Treveleyan and critiques the flawed ideology that prioritized market principles over humanitarian aid. Scanlan also explores the potato's symbolism in the famine narrative and reflects on its lasting impact on Irish identity and memory. His insights shed light on the profound complexities surrounding this tragic chapter in history.
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Potato Symbolizes Colonial Economy
- The potato became a symbol of Irish backwardness but was a modern crop crucial for survival in a colonial economy.
- It allowed the export economy to function while keeping the Irish poor in a state of subsistence labor.
Potato Blight's Ecological Impact
- The potato blight was an invasive pathogen from the Americas that spread rapidly across Europe.
- This ecological disaster was unprecedented, amplified by monoculture potato farming in Ireland.
British Famine Fears and Control
- British concern over the famine was driven by fear of economic collapse and civil unrest.
- The government relied heavily on coercion acts to suppress rural unrest instead of addressing structural issues.
