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The Great Famine
Crop Failures
Potato Blight
Relief Works
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In
Ireland
many people were close to starvation all the time. In the towns and cities, many
people lived in one room. In the country, many people lived in a one-roomed hut
with no window or chimney. The number of people living in Ireland went up from 5
million in 1800 to 8 million in 1840. Most people ate potatoes for their
breakfast, dinner and supper. 
There were crop failures in 1817 and 1821. Many people
died of hunger. The government built workhouses where people who had no money
could go to be fed. The workhouses were awful places, and very few people wanted
to go to them.
In 1845, a new disease called potato blight, spread
through the potatoes. This happened after the first crop had been gathered so
many people got by. In 1846, there was more blight and the whole crop was
ruined. People died of hunger on the side of the roads. People died of a disease
called typhus.
The government set up schemes such as building of roads
and bridges so that people could earn money. It also gave maize to the people.
The people did not like eating maize. Soup kitchens were set up by religious
groups. By 1850, nearly one million people had died from disease. Another
million had gone to America
on ships called ‘coffin’ ships. The worst of the famine was over by 1850,
but many people had given up hope. By 1900, nearly 4 million people had left
Ireland. Many people felt that the government should have done more to help the
starving.