The Great Irish Famine - documentary (1996)

What is commonly known as Ireland's Great Famine of 1845-1849 was a catastrophic tragedy that has embedded itself in the island's consciousness. The crop collapse and the political decisions around it decimated the island's population changing the course of Irish history. World history was also affected by a resultant wave of mass migration that spread Irish culture abroad, particularly to the United States. This documentary aired on the A&E cable channel in 1996. A small portion is missing at the 1:12:58 point (it is marked by a program ID) but the documentary and its information are basically intact and it is well worth watching.

[williamjohnmyers]

My Irish great grandfather fled the second famine in 1874 as an illiterate 19 year old. He came to Canada to swing a hammer building our railways. He married a woman who taught him to read and he became a better-paid locomotive driver. He and his wife had eight children and now hundreds of we decendants are spread across this vast country. They are policemen and soldiers, engineers, doctors, authors, and university professors. I sometimes wonder if as a young man he ever imagined this in his wildest dreams.

[Onthefritz]

I was born in Ireland in 1949. I was adopted here to the U.S. in 1951 at 17 months old. My birth family found me when I was 38. I love the Irish stories and my heart breaks at the horrific suffering of the famine. I’ve always tried to stay aware of my Irish heritage. It means so much to me. I’ve also stayed in touch with my family! ❤ 🇺🇸 💚🇨🇮

[thehappyplaceu]

I visited Ireland in 2000 and they were the kindest, warmest and sweetest people. The idea of them starving and suffering is heartbreaking.

[noelgenoway]

My mother immigrated to Canada in the early 1950's. She never spoke much about her upbringing in Ireland. She was born in county Cavan. I still have her Irish Birth Certificate written in Gaeilge. She was a very very proud Irish Woman who came to Canada for a better life! Thanks Mom! I will always love you!!!

[norm]

I live in the West of Ireland it’s truly a beautiful place to live, I look out my windows today and can still see the ridges over the hills left behind from famine times. I always take a moment to think about those people starving out in the fields and those that left across the sea to escape the hunger and save their love ones . I guess it’s a miracle that my ancestors survived and I’m able to live here .
God Bless all of them .

[timmolloy]

It was Genocide not famine. There was enough food in Ireland to feed the population 11 times over, which was exported at gunpoint by Britain.

[occidentadvocate.]

My Great great Grandfather Edward (Ned) Mc Farlan fled the famine from Leinster aged 16. He landed in Wales, and married an Irish girl called Ellen Hurley whose family had fled. He became a foundry man, working in various Foundrys. He ended up in Harlepool. They had 8 Children. Then they moved to Newcastle to work in the pits. Those children had numerous children, and now on Tyneside theres thousands of us decended from that desperate 16 year old who fled Famine and Tyranny. But we arnt just on Tyneside, iv researched my family tree. He has many decendents in Australia, America and Canada. Even back in Ireland as my Sister married an Irishman had 4 children and numerous grand children, and lives near to where 16 year old Ned fled from during the famine. His bloodline is back in the land of his ancestors. God Bless all Gaels world wide. Ireland for the Irish.

[cdfdesantis]

This was a shameful horror. It's ANOTHER damn shame that this same horror is going on still, in countries all over the world in the 21st century.

[benowen]

This should never be forgotten, I’m a proud Welshman and proud of the relationship we have with the Irish Nation.
Ireland we salute you! 🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️

[kaypaxian]

As a scotsman, my heart goes out to the irish people, like the highland clearence, We should always remember.

[ixbevgy]

My Ancestors emigrated to Australia in the 1850’s. This documentary is probably one of the saddest I have ever watched and it goes to show the neglect & abuse they must have suffered. They were Irish Catholics and remained so all their lives. The Great Famine and what happened should never be forgotten!

[Papa_Ubu]

American of Irish descent here, my people emigrated from Donegal in 1820 and 1840, first to New York City, they became wealthy working as a building contractors. As they were adequately fed, proceeded to have eleven children. All survived. I am of the west coast branch that set up in San Francisco just before the gold rush. Family produced several priests, one active in NYC politics in 1880s, one a church sculptor, his work now in The Fatima Shrine in Portugal.Another relative an American film actor of the 1930 s. All prosperous in America.

I like, as does my granddaughter, the baked potato.

God bless Ireland and the Irish.

[ALBANNACH]

Learned all about it from my Grandma who learned it from her Grandma who was there. The only one of her immediate family to survive !

[ronaldmacpherson]

My ancestors were Irish and how they overcame the famines is unrecorded and unknown . But that they survived is a testament to their courage and ability to overcome adversity and look forward into a new environment

[suzannemcclure]

I just watched this Irish struggle documentary. Yes, Tim, you are correct. I was moved utterly & I'm so proud of my Irish heritage. I now understand why/how some of my relatives ended up in Canada & then Michigan. Thank you A&E. Suzanne McClure

[ladyjane]

I’ve always called it the Great Starvation instead of the Great Famine. There was plenty of food. A country doesn’t export food to another country when there is a famine going on. I’m proud to be Irish American. What happened to my ancestors is heartbreaking and I pray it never is allowed to happen again.

[duncescotus]

The Choctaw Nation who had recently walked the Trail of Tears took up an offering for the Irish. They donated as much as Queen Victoria.

[SeldimSeen]

My great great great grandfather William came from Donegal Ireland some how found his way to Toledo Ohio. His son William was born in 1848. It is now 2020 and it breaks my heart to think of what he must have gone through.

[robertahubert]

This is all new to me. They should teach this history in our schools. I've learned more here on you tube than in our public schools. Thank you for the history lesson.

[gguzmanrico]

I have always felt a connection with Ireland. My wife and I visited the country in the summer of 2023 and loved every minute there. The connection to the land was profound. After this trip, I decided to get a DNA test and was shocked to find out I am 3% Irish! Logic tells me my Irish ancestor may have left the island during the Great Famine. I do not know if they went to Spain or straight to Mexico, and that is really not relevant. What truly matters is that now I finally understand why I chose Ireland other than other countries as my first European destination. The connection was there at the genetic level, granular, indeleble, and deep. Thank you Ireland.