The 1845 Irish Famine | Part 1: The Great Hunger
The background and first years of the Irish famine through the eyes of those who lived it.
In this episode, we explore the early years of the Irish Potato Famine, a devastating event that reshaped Ireland's history. Known as The Great Hunger (an Gorta Mór), this crisis led to the deaths of over a million people and forced millions more to flee their homeland. But this was no mere natural disaster—it was a crisis made worse by the actions, and inactions, of those in power.
We'll examine the role of Charles Trevelyan, a British civil servant whose policies worsened the famine's impact, turning a natural blight into a human-made catastrophe. We'll also meet Asenath Nicholson, an American humanitarian who travelled across Ireland, documenting the suffering and offering aid. Her accounts give us a glimpse into the lives of those who endured unimaginable hardships.
As we unravel these early years, we'll see how British colonial policies and mismanagement turned a crop failure into a national tragedy.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Huge thanks to the shows generous Patrons! 💓
To help support the show and receive early, add-free episodes, you can become an Anthology Patron here.
👑Claudia K, 👑Seth M, 👑Tom M, 👑Sam K, 👑Angus S, 👑Jon H, Gattsy, Phillip B, Alan R, Lisa R, Malcom G, Jim G, Henri K, James M, Caleb I
Listen On
