The Goodbye Tree
Great Irish Hunger of 1845-1852 (Irish Famine)
No event in history has had a more profound effect on Ireland and the worldwide Irish Community than that of the Great Irish Hunger (1845-1849). This is also referred to as the Great Famine or An Górta Mór
The cause of the Great Hunger is blamed on a potato disease commonly known as potato blight. The blight ravaged potato crops and the impact and human cost in Ireland, where one third of the population was entirely dependent on the potato for food, was exacerbated by a host of political, social and economic factors which remain the subject of historical debate. There was hunger, eviction, migration and deaths and it is estimated that approximately 1 million people died and a million more emigrated from Ireland. The social, cultural and psychological effects of this terrible event lingered on long afterwards and emigration became a part of Irish life.
The Irish that did survive the trip to America, Canada, or Australia on the coffin ships drummed up awareness and more importantly, aid in the form of food. But for every one ship sailing into Ireland with food, more were exporting grain-based alcohol, wool and flax, and other necessities such as wheat, oats, barley, butter, eggs, beef, and pork by their landowners.
The traditional Irish method of planting the potato was in “lazy beds”- these can be seen throughout the countryside as long lines into the sides of mountains and forming scars in the land.These fields can be seen in County Mayo and other parts of Ireland as a reminder of our ancestors and how the potato supported generations of Irish people.
The “Goodbye tree” - to those that died and to those that emigrated
The Goodbye Tree
Great Irish Hunger of 1845-1852 (Irish Famine)
No event in history has had a more profound effect on Ireland and the worldwide Irish Community than that of the Great Irish Hunger (1845-1849). This is also referred to as the Great Famine or An Górta Mór
The cause of the Great Hunger is blamed on a potato disease commonly known as potato blight. The blight ravaged potato crops and the impact and human cost in Ireland, where one third of the population was entirely dependent on the potato for food, was exacerbated by a host of political, social and economic factors which remain the subject of historical debate. There was hunger, eviction, migration and deaths and it is estimated that approximately 1 million people died and a million more emigrated from Ireland. The social, cultural and psychological effects of this terrible event lingered on long afterwards and emigration became a part of Irish life.
The Irish that did survive the trip to America, Canada, or Australia on the coffin ships drummed up awareness and more importantly, aid in the form of food. But for every one ship sailing into Ireland with food, more were exporting grain-based alcohol, wool and flax, and other necessities such as wheat, oats, barley, butter, eggs, beef, and pork by their landowners.
The traditional Irish method of planting the potato was in “lazy beds”- these can be seen throughout the countryside as long lines into the sides of mountains and forming scars in the land.These fields can be seen in County Mayo and other parts of Ireland as a reminder of our ancestors and how the potato supported generations of Irish people.
The “Goodbye tree” - to those that died and to those that emigrated