The Irish Famine in History and Memory
Speaker: Chuck Lanigan, writer, instructor and historian
Was the Irish potato famine genocide, or just an unfortunate convergence of historical and agricultural factors? What was the culpability of the British government, or indeed of Irish culture itself? We will go beyond the green beer and Riverdance depiction of Irish ‘troubles’ to explore the most traumatic event of Irish culture and history. The Irish Potato Famine (An Gorta Mor — or The Great Hunger) of 1845-1850 compares to the Soviet famine in the Ukraine and more recent human tragedies in Rwanda and Darfur in terms of impact. This presentation will challenge popular perception about an event that killed one million Irish and sent many more fleeing to Canada, New Zealand and the United States, including Pittsburgh.
Information
700 Cumberland Woods Drive
Allison Park, PA 15101
Phone: 412-635-8080
