Welcome to the longest-ever episode of Not Strictly History and a story from history that absolutely deserves to be told again and again. This is the episode that I have been hinting at for several weeks now: I started researching this and things got heavy very quickly. Not only that, there are so MANY layers here. I wanted to do the story justice. So, after a lot of extra research and weeks of writing, here is the episode for you. It is a story of death, disease, and hardship, of millions of people that are now perhaps lost to history. But it is also a story of resilient people with a rich culture and vibrant hearts. I cannot wait for you to hear it!

Important Links:

The National Famine Museum - Strokestown Park

Ireland's Great Hunger Museum

The Jeanie Johnston - Visit a Coffin Ship

EPIC- Irish Emigration Museum located in the heart of Dublin

The National Famine Way - follow the path of the 1,490

More to look into:

- Studies show that modern-day Irish descended from those who suffered during the Famine are more susceptible to mental illness and alcoholism due to changes in their DNA that result from the Famine

- There was a very significant amount of charitable donations given to Ireland from countries all over the world

- One of the most potent charitable actions was from the Cherokee Native Americans of Oklahoma, USA. Only a few years previously, they had been driven from their ancestral lands in the southern United States and forced to walk what is now known as the Trail of Tears. Many of them died. Upon hearing about the suffering in Ireland, this tribe donated $170 for relief aid. This is the equivalent of $6,380.99 today - a massive amount for people still starving and struggling themselves. A beautiful statue exists in Ireland to commemorate this wonderful gesture, and to this day the Cherokee Nation has strong ties with the government of Ireland. Here are some links:

Choctaw - Irish Connection

"Kindred Spirits" Statue