The potato was not a native of Ireland. Some Spanish conquistadors in south America found it and shipped it to Europe in 15th century and it reached Ireland around 1590. In the first 80 years the potatoes were grown in small numbers. Later they found out that if they plant more potatoes they will have enough to eat and ensure food in the future. The surplus could be sold to other countries and it will allow farmers to make money. Around 1750 the potato had been acclimatised to the Irish climate and it became the main food.
In 1845-1847 the potato crop failed and over a million people died of starvation in Ireland which represented about 25% of the total population and about two million people emigrated to North America, Canada and parts of England because it was the only way to avoid the famine. This was known as “The Great Famine”. The majority of these people were living on their very small farms and were depended on the one crop which was potato. The potatoes were their only nutrition to survive until the horrible disaster in 1845. It was their main source of food.
The weather had appeared to be favourable so people were believing in a good potato crop in 1845. When the time came to digging up the potatoes from the farm, they got only black gooey black mess which gave the people a shock. The potatoes rotted in the fields and their leaves had withered. The strange disease was called “blight” and destroyed the potatoes totally as they grew in the fields. It was not possible to eat these potatoes. The potatoes got a soggy consistency and it smelled badly.
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