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1845: The story behind the Great Irish potato famine
Black Potatoes
What you need to know before your trail
The Great Irish Famine was a dark time in Irish history – a time when one million people died from starvation and disease and two million more fled their homeland.
Black Potatoes is the compelling story of men, women, and children who defied landlords and searched empty fields for scraps of harvested vegetables and edible weeds to eat, who walked several miles each day to hard-labor jobs for meager wages and to reach soup kitchens, and who committed crimes just to be sent to jail, where they were assured of a meal. It’s the story of children and adults who suffered from starvation, disease, and the loss of family and friends, as well as those who died.
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The history of the Irish famine
In 1845, a disaster struck Ireland. Overnight, a mysterious blight attacked the potato crops, turning the potatoes black and destroying the only real food of nearly six million people
Strokestown Park tells the story of the Irish Potato famine – the House was the family home of the Pakenham Mahon family. Its landlord , Major Denis Mahon was assassinated in November 1847 at the height of The Great Famine of Ireland. The Irish National Famine Museum was established at Strokestown Park in 1994 using the unique original documents which came to light during the restoration of The House .
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: Black Potatoes
Author/Guide: Susan Campbell Bartoletti Destination: Ireland Departure Time: 1845
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