Through the summer of 1846 Ireland had endured terrible hunger and suffering. However against the odds the numbers who had starved to death were few. As many waited in great anticipation for the coming harvest, disaster struck when the potato blight returned on a much wider scale than in 1845. As the Irish MP Daniel O'Connell stated a 'death dealing famine' was on the cards. This show begins with a story of emigration and passengers on an early coffin ship. In the coming days I am heading to Achill Island of the west coast, where I will be making a series of podcasts and videos about life there during the Famine. You can find out more at www.patreon.com/irishpodcast For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy