Introduction to Irish History: The Great Famine and the Irish Diaspora

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A very simple question could be raised through this established fact: today, Ireland has a population of approximately 4 million while the the number of Irish Americans figure between 20 million and 40 million according to different sources. We all know that at the very beginning of the nineteenth century in Ireland, the population was larger than 8 million. In 1850, there were just 6 million people left. We could wonder the role played by the Great Famine --which appeared in 1846—in this massive emigration. But some other very interesting points could be asked with this question. Is the Great Famine the only responsible factor for this emigration? We will examine how this emigration is responsible for a huge Irish Diaspora today

Extraits

[...] The result of this is that we can observe a massive return in homeland of the emigrants, which was facilitated by the better standard of living. What is really incredible is that Ireland is operating an astonishing reconstruction with its dispersed people. Between 1845 and 1850, Ireland has suffered from Famine. This Famine has been responsible of a massive emigration during this period. More than 2 million people disappeared from the country; either dead or emigrants. But emigration already started before this “black period”. [...]

[...] But we could wonder if emigration in Ireland had already started before the Great Famine ? Did the emigration start before the Great Famine ? The Famine is not the only responsible of emigration The Irish emigration was in fact already present before the Great Famine. During the XVII this phenomenon had already begin; druids, scientists, priests left Ireland because of the massive persecution they are victim of. Even in the XVII century, a lot of Irish soldiers decided to leave Ireland and to set up in France or Spain. [...]

[...] Ireland has lost a very traditional mark with the Great Famine. This massive emigration created an important Irish Diaspora all around the world. The Irish Diaspora Nowadays, the American Irish people are really important in the US. They had an historical influence in the creation of the Democrat Party, of the worker Unions, of the federal administration and of the American Catholic Church. New-York gets its first Irish mayor in 1880, which helped Irish people to get more and more integrated into the US. [...]

[...] But what really activated the massive emigration was the Great Famine . even if it is one of the most important reason Even if the Irish emigration started before 1845, the Great Famine was one of principal reason of the emigration. In of the New-York population is Irish and are more numerous in NY than in Dublin. During the years of famine, more than boats leaved Ireland for the US. But the Atlantic crossing was very long, and a lot of sick people died on board. [...]

[...] But it was not the case; the situation is more serious than usually. A mushroom called mildew appeared in Ireland and gave off very fast. All the infected tubers rotted. On the other hand, all the stocks were eaten very quickly. The problem is that one crop should give usually the seed for the next gathering, but in 1845 it was not possible. Another bad gathering followed. Some potatoes saved from 1845 were planted but for the second time in a row, the mildew strikes. [...]