The Great Famine
The most important source of food in 19th century Ireland was the
potato. In the autumn of 1845, farmers found that their potatoes were
rotting in the fields. A plant disease called phytophthora infestans
destroyed almost the entire crop. This led to a terrible famine. Many
people died. More decided to leave Ireland:
The winter of 1847-48 was, to make things worse, one of the most bitter
on record. The years 1848 and 1849 were the worst years of the famine.
Without sufficient help the Irish had no choice but to flee in greater
and greater numbers. At least 1.5 million (and possibly as many as 2
million) had left Ireland by 1851, and at least 1 million or possibly
twice that number died of starvation and disease. It is no wonder that
Ireland's officially expected population of more than 9 million fell
almost 2.5 million short in the 1851 census.9
Some people think that most Newfoundland Irish arrived during or just
after the Great Famine. This is not true. The Great Famine caused many
people to leave Ireland, but most of these went to the United States.
The Irish migration to Newfoundland was nearly over by the time of the
Great Famine.
The Irish in Newfoundland
The Beginning The Irish first started coming to Newfoundland around
1675. Some of the earliest Irish settlements were Ireland's Eye (1675),
Heart's Content (1696) and St. John's (1705).10 The English
had been coming to Newfoundland since the mid 1500s.
The Irish came to Newfoundland on English ships to work in the summer
(migratory) fishery. Most of these ships came from the English West
Country and from Poole:
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