From 1845-52 Ireland was ravaged by the potato blight-- over 1 million people died and 2 million people (together about 25% of the total population) emigrated to North America and Australia. Clearly the country was devastated and this tragic time of its history has had a continuing impact on Ireland, even today. While traveling in the northwest part of Ireland I passed by that part of the country hardest hit. There are two national memorials to this part of its history:
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| Memorial to those who died during the Irish Potato famine. This memorial has a dedication written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu |
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| This is a memorial to those who died on board the ships taking the Irish emigrants overseas...the "coffin ships" |
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