Images of the Irish Images of the Irish FamineFamine

Washington and Lee UniversityWashington and Lee UniversityProgram in Irish StudiesProgram in Irish Studies

Professor Marc C. ConnerProfessor Marc C. Conner

A typical tenant or small farmer A typical tenant or small farmer cottage in the west of Ireland.cottage in the west of Ireland.

The Pictorial TimesThe Pictorial Times, 2.7.1846 , 2.7.1846

A crowd of starving peasants seeking entry A crowd of starving peasants seeking entry into the Union Workhouse.into the Union Workhouse.

R. Wilson, R. Wilson, The Life and Times of Queen VictoriaThe Life and Times of Queen Victoria, 1887-88, 1887-88

A Famine burial.A Famine burial.Dufferin and Boyle, Dufferin and Boyle, Narrative of a Journey from Oxford to SkibbereenNarrative of a Journey from Oxford to Skibbereen, 1847., 1847.

Famine? or Plenty?Famine? or Plenty?

““People starve in the midst of plenty, as People starve in the midst of plenty, as literally as if dungeon bars separating them literally as if dungeon bars separating them from a granary. When distress has been at from a granary. When distress has been at its height, and our poor have been dying of its height, and our poor have been dying of starvation in our streets, our corn has been starvation in our streets, our corn has been going to a foreign market. It is, to our own going to a foreign market. It is, to our own poor, a forbidden fruit.” poor, a forbidden fruit.” Dr. Dominic J. Corrigan, Dr. Dominic J. Corrigan, On On Famine and Fever as Causes and Effect in IrelandFamine and Fever as Causes and Effect in Ireland, Dublin, 1846., Dublin, 1846.

An EvictionAn EvictionIllustrated London NewsIllustrated London News 12.16.1848 12.16.1848

After an Eviction.After an Eviction. Illustrated London NewsIllustrated London News 12.15.1848 12.15.1848

A Famine VillageA Famine Village Illustrated London NewsIllustrated London News 12.22.1849 12.22.1849

Go here for further images of famine villages.

““Immense herds of cattle, sheep and hogs . . Immense herds of cattle, sheep and hogs . . . Floating off on every tide, out of every one . Floating off on every tide, out of every one of our thirteen seaports, bound for England; of our thirteen seaports, bound for England; and the landlords were receiving their rents and the landlords were receiving their rents and going to England to spend them; and and going to England to spend them; and many hundreds of poor people had laid many hundreds of poor people had laid down and died on the roadside for want of down and died on the roadside for want of food.” food.” John Mitchell, Jail Journal, or Five Years in British Prisons, John Mitchell, Jail Journal, or Five Years in British Prisons, New York 1854.New York 1854.

Preparing to emigrate.Preparing to emigrate. Illustrated London NewsIllustrated London News 5.10.1851 5.10.1851

Emigrating from Cobh Harbor, Co. Emigrating from Cobh Harbor, Co. Cork.Cork.

National Library of Ireland photograph.National Library of Ireland photograph.

A Famine shipA Famine ship

The Jeanie JohnstonThe Jeanie JohnstonReplica of ship that made trans-Replica of ship that made trans-Atlantic crossing 16 times from Atlantic crossing 16 times from 1847-1853, from Tralee to Canada,1847-1853, from Tralee to Canada,without a single loss of life.without a single loss of life.

Replica built in 2002, sailed from Replica built in 2002, sailed from Tralee, Co. Kerry. Now a Tralee, Co. Kerry. Now a permanent museum on the permanent museum on the

Dublin Dublin Quays.Quays.

http://www.jeaniejohnston.ie/index.htmlhttp://www.jeaniejohnston.ie/index.html

A contemporary mural in BelfastA contemporary mural in BelfastAn Gorta MorAn Gorta Mor, “the Great Hunger”, “the Great Hunger”

Further resources for the Irish Further resources for the Irish Famine.Famine.

For a fine overview, see E.R.R. Green’s essay in Moody and For a fine overview, see E.R.R. Green’s essay in Moody and Martin’s Martin’s The Course of Irish HistoryThe Course of Irish History

Cathal Poirteir’s collection of essays, Cathal Poirteir’s collection of essays, The Great Irish FamineThe Great Irish Famine, is , is a superb detailed study of the issues.a superb detailed study of the issues.

Noel Kissane published a documentary volume, Noel Kissane published a documentary volume, The Irish The Irish FamineFamine, in 1995 that has excellent contemporary accounts and , in 1995 that has excellent contemporary accounts and imagesimages

Cecil Woodham-Smith’s 1962 study Cecil Woodham-Smith’s 1962 study The Great Hunger: Ireland The Great Hunger: Ireland 1845-18491845-1849, though dated, remains a strong and interesting , though dated, remains a strong and interesting narrative.narrative.

There are two particularly strong web sites devoted to the There are two particularly strong web sites devoted to the famine: “Views of the Famine” (famine: “Views of the Famine” (http://adminstaff.vassar.edu/sttaylor/FAMINE/ ) and “The Great ) and “The Great Irish Famine” (Irish Famine” (http://www.nde.state.ne.us/ss/irish/irish_pf.html ))

[all images used in this PP presentation are, to the best of my knowledge, in the public domain. This PP presentation is for [all images used in this PP presentation are, to the best of my knowledge, in the public domain. This PP presentation is for educational purposes only]educational purposes only]