BEFORE YOU READ

My name is Isobel Strife. This story is written based on the great famine in Ireland from 1845-1850. Here are some facts about the famine which may help you with understanding this story more.

~Ireland was ruled by England during this time, taking our food and work over to their country. All Ireland wanted was to be free.

~In 1845, Ireland's essential crop the potato caught a disease called blight, causing them to rot away as soon as they were ready to be harvested.

~Due to this, many families were poor and starving. They had no money to pay the landlords, making them have to fight for a place in a workhouse.

~A workhouse is, basically, where people worked for their food. Men and women were separated and given separate jobs.

~Many people emigrated to America, England and Australia to try and escape the famine on coffin ships.

~Coffin ships were given their name because many people died on the voyages. Some ships even sank because there was so many people on board.

~The worst year of the famine was 1847 (Black 47)

~The Famine ended in 1850. More than one million people died and many more emigrated. The population of Ireland at the time before the famine (8 million) was more than halved. Ireland today is still building their population from 1850.

There! So I hope with these few facts they could make people not from Ireland understand this story better. Enjoy this story, but please no flames!

Isobel Strife x