The Great Famine

The Great Famine, which occurred in Ireland from 1845 to 1852, was a devastating period marked by mass starvation and disease. It was primarily caused by a potato blight, which destroyed the staple food crop that many Irish people relied on. The crisis was exacerbated by British government policies that prioritized exports and inadequate relief efforts, leading to significant loss of life and emigration. An estimated one million people died, and another million fled the country, drastically altering Ireland's population and society. The famine highlighted issues of inequality and colonial governance that have had lasting effects on Irish history.