Timeline of the Irish Potato Famine 1845-1851
The truth is that we'll never know precisely how many people were lost during that time. Though they can certainly be numbered in their millions.
Babies were born and died without ever being registered. Hungry people fell down in the lanes and were buried in the banks. There was a large amount of displacement going on, as people headed from the country to the larger towns and cities.
The usual figures given are over 1.5m dead and 2m emigrated, though that should be considered a minimum.
When I get chance, I'll see what I can uncover about your Mary Harrington. I'm currently writing another Wizzle about the Irish genocide, which should be published later today.
And yes, the story about what happened to the Irish, when they arrived in the new world, is a whole new testimony of horrors.
JoHarrington, Sep 5, 2012
