The Great Famine

Timeline

• 1845 (Autumn) — Blight appears; part of the potato crop destroyed. The government imports Indian corn (maize) from North America and sets up public works projects so that poor men can earn enough to buy food.
• 1846 — Sir Robert Peel repeals the Corn Laws (June). The Liberals, under Lord John Russell, come to power (July), and pass the full costs of public works on to the local rates: the burden falls on the landlords. Complete destruction of the potato crop (August to September). Most of the crop is lost, causing terrible distress in many places. Food prices rise, so that even those on public works cannot earn enough to feed their families. Central Relief Committee of the Society of Friends set up (November).
• 1847 (Spring) — The famine is at its worst. The government stops public works projects and instead sets up food kitchens. Fever hospitals established in workhouses.
• 1847 (Autumn) — The potato harvest is healthy, but only a small area was planted.
• 1848 (Autumn) — The blight returns. Rates of eviction and emigration are high.
• 1849 — Conditions still bad over much of the country.
• 1850 — The worst is over, but some areas are still very distressed. By now over a million people have died and a million have emigrated.