Short History Of... The Irish Potato Famine
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Jan 16, 2023 Kristina Kinealy, a distinguished historian and director of Ireland's Great Hunger Institute, delves into the heart-wrenching tale of the Irish Potato Famine. She discusses the devastating impact of the potato blight, exacerbated by British neglect and political choices. Kinealy highlights the ongoing food exports during the crisis and the desperate emigration to escape hunger, detailing the dangers of 'coffin ships.' The conversation also touches on the long-lasting effects of the famine on Irish identity and the political landscape.
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Keating Family's Desperate Visit
- Dr. Daniel Donovan describes Mrs. Keating begging for help and burying her dead child during Black 47.
- Within weeks the entire Keating family perish, illustrating intimate human cost of the famine.
Famine Was Political As Well As Natural
- The famine combined natural blight with centuries of colonization to become catastrophe.
- Westminster's prejudices and policy choices turned crop failure into mass death and emigration.
Potato Dependency And Vulnerability
- Potatoes became the subsistence staple because they grew in poor soils and supported rapid population growth.
- Tenant farming and enclosure left many reliant on a single vulnerable crop, the Irish lumper.