Irish Potato Famine

“An Irish Peasant Family Discovering the Blight of their Store,” by Daniel MacDonald, c. 1847

The Great Famine (Irish: an Gorta Mór) or the Great Hunger was a period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland between 1845 and 1849. With the greatest impacted areas to the west and south of Ireland. During the famine, about one million people died and a million more emigrated from Ireland, causing the island’s population to fall by between 20% and 25%. The proximate cause of the famine was a natural event, a potato blight, which infected potato crops throughout Europe during the 1840s. The event is sometimes referred to as the Irish Potato Famine, mostly outside Ireland. Wikipedia

Learn more about the Irish Potato Famine through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Irish Potato Famine

Newspaper reports that potato disease is spreading rapidly in Ireland during Potato Famine Fri, Oct 24, 1845 – 2 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.comFirsthand account of levels of potato rot in Irish village; Landlords have little sympathy Fri, Nov 14, 1845 – 3 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.comNewspaper reports on effects of potato blight in England; includes firsthand accounts Sat, Nov 15, 1845 – 11 · The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser (Bristol, Bristol, England) · Newspapers.comFamine is impending due to loss of potato crop; Says British government should take action Sun, Nov 23, 1845 – 1 · The Washington Union (Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPrice of potatoes in Ireland reported to have drastically risen in one week; Famine is imminent Tue, Mar 17, 1846 – 1 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.comObservations about effects of Potato Famine in Ireland, including disease and crime Fri, Apr 17, 1846 – 3 · The Morning Chronicle (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comArticle expresses opinion that Potato Famine is the fault of the Irish Sat, Sep 5, 1846 – 1 · Leicester Chronicle or Commercial and Leicestershire Mercury (Leicester, Leicestershire, England) · Newspapers.comAccount of conditions around Ireland during the Potato Famine, in early 1847 Sat, Jan 23, 1847 – 8 · The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser (Bristol, Bristol, England) · Newspapers.comEditorial discusses what it sees as the political situation that led to the Irish Potato Famine Wed, Feb 10, 1847 – 4 · The Bury and Norwich Post (Bury, Suffolk, England) · Newspapers.com"Address to the Public from a Meeting in the City of Washington for the Relief of Ireland" Sat, Feb 13, 1847 – 1 · The Washington Union (Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America) · Newspapers.comEffects of Irish immigration to Liverpool during famine; Unprecedented number immigrate to America Mon, Mar 22, 1847 – 1 · New York Daily Herald (New York, New York, United States of America) · Newspapers.comTally of the number of deaths attributed to Potato Famine in various Irish parishes Tue, Apr 27, 1847 – 4 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.comIrish soup kitchen set up to help people starving from famine closes down Wed, Sep 22, 1847 – 3 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.comEditorial criticizes British government's response to famine; Says Irish want rights, not alms Thu, Oct 14, 1847 – 2 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from an Irish nationalist's speech attributing the Great Famine to English policy 30 May 1848, Tue Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) Newspapers.comEditor of English periodical "Britannia" calls Irish famine "the hand of God punishing the land" 26 Aug 1848, Sat The Star of Freedom (Leeds, West Yorkshire, England) Newspapers.comLetter provides explanation for increased Irish immigration to United States Sat, Apr 13, 1850 – 2 · Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) · Newspapers.comArticle discusses effect Irish immigration has on US economy; Half of immigrants in 1849 were Irish Sat, Aug 24, 1850 – 2 · The Daily Republic (Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America) · Newspapers.comReport says Ireland's population decreased by 2 million from 1841 to 1851 due to famine & emigration 10 Oct 1851, Fri The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia) Newspapers.comNewspaper reports on problems with the potato crop in Ireland in 1879 as blight returns 15 Sep 1879, Mon Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) Newspapers.comSummary of Irish Potato Famine and how it still affects modern Ireland Sun, Aug 20, 1995 – Page 38 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comBritish prime minister admits British blame for Irish Potato Famine in 1997 Tue, Jun 3, 1997 – Page 101 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Irish family being evicted after not paying rent during Potato Famine Sat, Aug 30, 1997 – Page 2 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America) · Newspapers.com