The Great Hunger

The Great Hunger, also known as the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852), was a severe food shortage in Ireland caused by a potato blight that destroyed the main crop. Since many Irish relied heavily on potatoes for sustenance, the famine led to mass starvation, disease, and death. British policies during this period, including export of food from Ireland, worsened the crisis. The famine resulted in around one million deaths and prompted a significant wave of emigration, profoundly impacting Irish society and history.