an Gorta Mór (The Great Famine)

The Great Famine (an Gorta Mór) or the Great Hunger (1845 – 1852) began as a natural catastrophe of extraordinary magnitude, but its effects on Ireland were severely worsened by the actions and inactions of the ruling British government. Ultimately, the root cause of the famine was perceived to be British policy, which reduced the amount of land available for feeding the Irish, and therefore stimulated the demand for political autonomy. This period of mass starvation and disease resulted in the death of over a million men, women and children with another two million emigrating.  It is acknowledged that the Irish famine was proportionally more destructive than most of the famines of modern times, killing nearly one-eighth of the entire population.

The introduction of the potato in the second half of the 16th century heavily influenced Ireland's cuisine thereafter and its importance as an Irish staple is still evident today. Chips seemed to be served with every meal and if not, there is likely to be potato in some form or another. However in 1846 and successive years, blight destroyed the potato crop that had provided approximately 60 per cent of the nation's food needs.  The fact that only four types of potato were brought from the Americas contributed to the famine, because, a lack of genetic diversity exasperated the situation resulted in potentially greater devastating consequences from the blight. 

A walk along the Customs House Quay passes by a series of gaunt and expressive statues that represent the starving and dying population of The Great Famine (1845 – 1848).  The statues were designed and crafted by Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie (1997) and are simply entitled “Famine”. This evocative piece of art captures the very essence of the suffering during the Famine. This series of sculptures are executed superbly with exquisite detail captured on their faces depicting their anguish in the near lifeless expressions; that is both somber and haunting. The sunken, hopeless faces tell it all; starving, pleading, dying. It is a simple monument with an aura that has the power to stop you in your tracks, is thought provoking, well positioned and overall a beautiful series that is well worth the walk along the Customs House Quay. It was Rowan Gillespie's intention, to compliment his famine sculpture in Dublin, with a sculpture of a group of figures arriving on the other side of the Atlantic. In 2007, a second series of famine sculptures was unveiled on the quayside in Toronto's Ireland Park commemorating the arrival of these refugees in Canada.  These statues were so beautiful I thought them a fitting conclusion to my series of Dublin posts.  A visit to Toronto's Ireland Park is a must in my future.