Famine
I've been to Ireland quite a few times now and I love the country. It's nature is so green, beautiful and different where ever you go. But Ireland isn't just nature, it's also culture. And its culture is formed in a large part by the oppression by the British. Midway through the 19th century a major (potato)famine hit the country. According to some British leaders, it was all just nonsense: 'Walk it off' kind of stuff. But of the by then eight million Irish, only four million remained. Starvation, illnesses related to starvation and for the lucky ones who did survive: emigration. This picture I took in Dublin a few years ago. It's the Famine Monument and remembers all those who didn't make it.
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What a sad but beautiful statue! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very poignant post and image.
ReplyDeleteA very striking photo. I enjoyed your blog.
ReplyDeleteWow. I didn't know that. Thanks for the thought provoking article.
ReplyDeleteI knew that but thank you for reminding my of it again, it is easy to forget or repress.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great statue and photo.
xoxo Tyra
Yes, the Irish Potato Famine was a very dark period in our history. We had our own dark periods, but none so devastating to the population - as I understand it, it was a combination of factors; the corn laws, the potato blight and the loss of the grazing lands, which had been appropriated by absentee landlords who bled the country dry and spent none of their money there.
ReplyDeleteIt needs to be remembered, though hopefully such a catastrophic combination of circumstances will never happen again.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post; Ireland is the home of my ancestors, but unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to visit...thanks for allowing me a "peak"...
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend ahead!
We let awful things happen to fellow people. Then, and now.
ReplyDeleteWho says we learn from history.
We don't.
We are too selfish!
Anyway, lovely post, striking statue.
Hugs
Such an unusual monument and a hard and sad time period...thanks for the info...
ReplyDeleteExcellent reminder of what happens when compassion departs. Nice photo!
ReplyDeleteAmerica was lucky. Immigrants from Ireland became important contributing members of our communities.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty blog you have!
Yes, there was a lot of emigration. There are a lot of Irish roots in this area -- fiddle music etc.
ReplyDeleteoh...that's sad. Didn't know about this disaster before.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this issue so sad is the fact that there are still so many countries in the world where people are still starving even in this modern day and age.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. Memorials and monuments are so poignant for our lives.
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