The Irish Potato Famine refers to a period of widespread hunger and mass starvation in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. It was caused by the failure of potato crops due to a disease called late blight, resulting in a devastating impact on Ireland's population.
Related terms
Great Hunger: Another term used to describe the Irish Potato Famine.
Emigration: The act of leaving one's country to settle permanently in another.
Workhouses: Institutions established during the famine where destitute people were forced to live and work in exchange for minimal food and shelter.