In the year of 1845, late in the summertime, Irish life would be forever altered. The fungus names phytopthora infestans infected the potato crops of Ireland causing a potato blight in the country. Over one million people died during the next five years because of this blight while over two million people Emigrate Ireland in the ten years following when the blight first struck. It was a major European famine and the last of its kind in Europe. In Irish history, the great famine is known as a watershed. The potato was the main source of nutrition in Ireland at this time especially for the cottier class, agricultural labourers and poor people in general. At least one third of people survived and depended on the potato crop. During the first year of this blight it caused unbelievable mayhem as many people who survived and depended on the potato crop had no other source of food leading to many deaths and …show more content…
Oats were arranged in a shipment in 1816 to be brought to places where the famine had hit and to be sold at cheap prices, though this did help somewhat the oats were of poor quality and fraud was taking place in the selling of the oats. With food shortages continuing, Peel set up a commission to give some relief. This relief commission allowed the poor to work for money which in turn they could use to go out and buy food. Local contributions were insisted upon by the commission, this was also a pre-condition for government assistance. Local committees were depended on to set up the famine relief. This same type of pattern was repeated in 1822 when once again famine was a threat. More commissions were set up to help organise public works. Local relief committees were tasked with a vital role. With these relief committees existing, it was seen as proof that an area was hit by the famine and was suffering and aid was provided by local