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[[File:Irish_potato_famine_Bridget_O'DonnelSkibbereen_by_James_Mahony,_1847.jpgjpeg|thumbnail|Bridget O'Donnell left|225px|Potato Famine in Skibbereen, Ireland in 1847]]The Great Irish Famine (1845-1850), one of the last great famines in western Europe. The Famine was a disaster for Ireland, and in many ways, the country has not recovered from its impact to this day. The Famine or the ‘Great Hunger’ as it was known led to the deaths of 1 million people and her another two starving children during million emigrated. The article will examine the impact of the famine on Irish society and how it ‘decisively shaped its history and the nature of its society and economy.<ref>Donnelly, James S (2005), ''The Great Irish Potato Famine in 1849|150px]], Sutton Publishing'', p. 89.</ref> The Irish Famine was not just of local importance but was to have international repercussions. This was because it led to the emigration of millions of Irish people, which changed societies from North America to Australasia.
==Emigration==
For many decades after the Famine , there was large scale emigration from Ireland. It led to a decline in the Irish population, in . In 1840 there were 8 and a half million people in Ireland in . In 1960 there were only 4.5 million, despite the country having a high birth rate. Many Irish people had left the country for America and elsewhere prior to before the Famine.<ref>Foster, p. 134.</ref> However, because of the Famine, millions were to leave the country. This was to have dramatic consequences for the populations of many countries. Soon there were substantial Irish communities all over the world. These Irish emigrants helped to develop the economics of their new homes. Irish emigrants settled on the frontier in countries such as America, Canada , and Australia. Emigrants from Ireland helped these nations to expand and to grow. However, as many of the Irish were Catholics , this led to sectarian tensions with existing Protestant communities in countries such as America and Canada.<ref>Foster, p. 245.</ref>
[[File:Ireland_population_change_1841_1851.png|thumbnail|Population due to the Irish Potato Famine|160px]]
====Conclusion====The Famine was an extraordinary tragedy for Ireland. It led to mass starvation and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It decisively shaped Irish society for many decades and even to the present day. The Famine resulted in increased tensions not only between Catholic and Protestant Catholics and Protestants but between Britain and Ireland. These tensions led to violence and instability for many years. Its most ‘durable "durable legacy " was the continuing high emigration levels of emigration from the country, which lasted until at least the 1990s.<ref>Foster, p. 345.</ref> This was a tragedy for Ireland , and as a result of emigration, the Irish population has still not recovered to its pre-Famine level. However, the Famine led to mass a massive emigration from the country wave and this was to have had significant consequences for many nations, especially in North America. Irish emigrants helped countries such as Canada and America to fulfill their potential and become great countries.<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Other DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What were the goals of the Axis powers and the Soviet Union during World War Two?]]*[[How did Vladimir Lenin Rise To Power?]]*[[How did cycling become popular?]]</div>
====References====
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[[Category:Irish History]] [[Category:European History]] [[Category:19th Century History]]
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