THE IRISH FAMINE 1845 - 1849

Part 1 of a BBC Documentary shown on TG4

The Irish Famine during the years 1845 - 1849 was caused as a result of a failure in the Potatoe harvest. This failure followed the potatoes being affected by "The Potatoe Blight". The result was a complete decimation of the population as a result of death and emigration. Some estimates of the effects on population: A reduction from almost 8 and one half million to under 5 million. This had a catastrophic effect on the country and it probably galvanised the public consciousness towards eventual withdrawal from British Empire in the early part of the Twentieth Century. In fact Ireland was the first country in the new century to establish it's independence from it's former cruel oppressor. The British Authorities are far from fondly remembered for this period in Irish history.

The following documentary is an attempt to give a picture of these sad events

Many thanks to BBC TV and TG4 Ireland for this Documentary.