Beginning of the Blight
Source: National Library of Ireland (click to enlarge)
After a very wet summer in 1845 the potato crop was found to be blighted by a disease called Phytophthora Infestans. In a letter to his children James Prendergast explains this.
"The beginning of the harvest was very promising, the crops... had a very rich appearance. And it was generally expected that the season would be very plentiful. But within the few weeks, the greatest alarm prevails throughout the kingdom... A disease has seized the potato crop... the standing food of the country. The potatoes which were good and healthy a few days since are now rotten in the ground, even some of which... stored in pits seem to be affected with the same blight. The Newspapers teem with alarming accounts of the same disease throughout the kingdom. ...It is dreaded that nothing less than a famine must prevail."
"The beginning of the harvest was very promising, the crops... had a very rich appearance. And it was generally expected that the season would be very plentiful. But within the few weeks, the greatest alarm prevails throughout the kingdom... A disease has seized the potato crop... the standing food of the country. The potatoes which were good and healthy a few days since are now rotten in the ground, even some of which... stored in pits seem to be affected with the same blight. The Newspapers teem with alarming accounts of the same disease throughout the kingdom. ...It is dreaded that nothing less than a famine must prevail."
Ireland's Great Hunger Museum
Because of the loss of potatoes, a famine almost immediately came to the country.
"There is nothing expected here, only an immediate famine." -Mary Rush in letter to parents in America
About the Blight
Wherever the blight attacked, white spots were sighted on the leaves, then the spots turned brown. The whole stalk would become blackened and wilted. When touched, parts of the potato would crumble. However before any of this happened an odd smell would fill the air. That was the first indication that the blight had struck.
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The Famine
Source: Ireland's Great Hunger Museum
The blight continued to ruin the crop for five straight years causing the worst famine Ireland had ever seen.
"The state of this country is almost beyond description. Nothing to be seen in all quarters but distress and destitution. Famine and starvation threatening everywhere..." -James Prendergast
These five years were known as "An Gorta Mor", in English "the great hunger".
"Fourteen died on Sunday, three of these were buried in coffins; eleven were buried without other coverings than the rags they wore alive."
-New York Daily Times
"The state of this country is almost beyond description. Nothing to be seen in all quarters but distress and destitution. Famine and starvation threatening everywhere..." -James Prendergast
These five years were known as "An Gorta Mor", in English "the great hunger".
"Fourteen died on Sunday, three of these were buried in coffins; eleven were buried without other coverings than the rags they wore alive."
-New York Daily Times
Food Riots
"Before eight o'clock on Friday morning last a mob, consisting of between forty and fifty persons, many of them mere boys, commenced an attack upon the bakers shop, in the neighborhood of Summerhill, Britain-Street, and Abby Street. Owing to the early hour, and the unexpectedness, of the outbreak, they were enable to carry their depredations without let or hindrance."
-The Australian
-The Australian
Black '47
Source: Interpreting the Irish Famine, 1846-1850 (click to enlarge)
Even though in 1847 the blight did not hit as strong, this was still the year of greatest suffering.
"We cannot say much of the present crop of the country. They were very promising until within the last few days when some signs of a blight appeared on the potato stalks not very unlike that which destroyed them last year." -James Prendergast
In a letter to her parents Mary Rush said, "...pen cannot dictate the poverty of this country, at present, the potato crop is quite done away all over Ireland and we are told prevailing all over Europe."
"We cannot say much of the present crop of the country. They were very promising until within the last few days when some signs of a blight appeared on the potato stalks not very unlike that which destroyed them last year." -James Prendergast
In a letter to her parents Mary Rush said, "...pen cannot dictate the poverty of this country, at present, the potato crop is quite done away all over Ireland and we are told prevailing all over Europe."
None of those who witnessed the scenes which took place in Ireland during the 'potato rot' and the 'famine years' are likely ever to forget them."
-W. Steuart Trench in book Realities of Irish Life
In 1850 the Famine ended. "This month is usually called "the poor man's harvest time" and never, perhaps, has been there a most favorable time. ....The accounts of the yield and quality of the grain crops are of the most encouraging nature. There are still complaints of the potato disease, but the blight is partial, and the market price is advancing in some places, owing to the subsidence of alarm."
-New York Daily Times
-New York Daily Times