Black '47: the Great Famine's worst year in Ireland

Background. The Great Famine, known as Black '47, was the worst year of a period of mass starvation and disease in Ireland from 1845 to 1852. The region around Skibbereen experienced significant famine during these years. The crisis was rooted in long-standing land management issues and prior crop failures, creating a vulnerable population facing disaster.

Relief Policy. In January 1847, the British government abandoned its policy of non-interference, implementing a mix of indoor and outdoor relief. This included workhouses and soup kitchens. The Poor Relief Act of June 1847 established that Irish property must support Irish poverty. Financial constraints led to the transfer of relief costs to local taxes in April 1847.

Skibbereen Impact. Skibbereen was one of the areas hardest hit by the famine during the winter of 1846–47. The distress in this locality inspired several British relief initiatives, including the British Relief Association and the governmental soup kitchen programme. The suffering in the west of Ireland was described as unparalleled in the world.

International Response. Relief efforts included the founding of the British Relief Association in January 1847, which raised funds through a Queen's Letter. Pope Pius IX issued an encyclical in March 1847 calling for Catholic contributions. The Royal Navy squadron in Cork undertook significant relief operations, distributing supplies from the British Relief Association.