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What caused the Irish Famine?

Padraic X Scanlan reexamines the causes of the Irish Famine, highlighting the damaging impact of the British empire's economic structures

Published: May 5, 2025 at 7:30 AM

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In the 1840s, famine hit Ireland with devastating consequences. But what were the circumstances that turned a potato blight into a catastrophe that shattered societal structures and caused around a million deaths? Padraic X Scanlan speaks to Ellie Cawthorne about the causes and impact of the famine, linking the disaster to the economic structures of the British empire.

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Padraic X Scanlan is the author of Rot: A History of the Irish Famine (Basic Books, 2025)

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Authors

Ellie CawthorneHead of content (audio)

Ellie Cawthorne is head of content (audio) at HistoryExtra

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