Irish food shortages (1925)

Food shortages in Ireland occurred in 1925.[1][2][3]

History

In 1925 the Irish government denied that people faced starvation, however, in the Connacht, several people had apparently already starved to death.[4]

In the early 1920s the Irish Free State was in a ruinous state. The Irish War of Independence, the Irish Civil War and an economic depression were taking their toll on society, with over 100,000 unemployed in a population of 3 million.[5]

Speaking in the Dáil, the Minister for Lands and Agriculture Patrick Hogan stated that "There is no abnormal distress in the West this year. I say that definitely and deliberately. There is always distress in the West, but the distress this year is not ... particularly unique....There is never real famine in the West unless there is a failure of potatoes, and there was no failure of potatoes this year."

Hogan's claim was not only at odds with media reports over the previous six months but also with his own colleagues. Heavy rain had caused crop failure and destroyed animal fodder, and the flooding of peat bogs had also deprived people of fuel.

The government were accused of covering up the food shortgages in order to avoid bad publicity.[6]

Conditions returned to normal with better harvests in 1925 and 1926.

Relief efforts

The Free State government allocated IR£250,000 in relief funds.[7] An appeal for funds was made in Australia by Linda Kearns in February 1925, raising thousands of Australian pounds.[2] The Workers International Relief (a Communist International adjunct) also organised relief.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Dwyer, Fin. "1925 – Ireland's Forgotten Famine and another government cover-up?".
  2. 1 2 "The Irish Famine: An Appeal for Funds". Sydney: Evening News. 12 February 1925. p. 10. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. ↑ Ó Gráda, Cormac (November 2004). "Ireland's Great Famine: An Overview" (PDF). University College Dublin; Centre for Economic Research. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "The Irish Famine Of 1925". 28 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Dwyer, Fin. "1925 – Ireland's Forgotten Famine and another government cover-up?".
  6. ↑ "Ireland's forgotten famine of 1925". 14 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Distressed Ireland". Hobart: The Mercury. 2 February 1925. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "Workers' Self Help: W.I.R. Organises Relief for Irish Famine Victims". Sydney: The Workers' Weekly. 19 June 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
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