Great Famine (Ireland)

The Great Famine in Ireland (1845–1852) was a period of mass starvation and disease caused by a potato blight, which devastated the primary food source for millions. Ireland was heavily dependent on potatoes, and the failure of the crop led to widespread hunger, poverty, and death. British policies at the time limited aid and export of food resources, worsening the crisis. The famine caused about a million deaths and prompted over a million people to emigrate, significantly reducing Ireland’s population. It had lasting social, economic, and political impacts, shaping Irish history and identity.