In the past two centuries no event has shaped the Ireland of today more than the famine of 1845 – 1852. No event stirs the emotions of Irish people more. No other event demonstrates so clearly the failure of British colonial policy in Ireland.

This lecture will focus on the events that resulted in the worst ever famine in Ireland, the deaths of over one million people, and the emigration of another one to two million Irish people. It will examine the famine years to clarify the reasons why people died of starvation and disease while the food they produced was taken out of Ireland under armed guard. It will deal decisively with any notion that the Irish people brought this upon themselves or that it was God’s will.

Presenter: Sean Murphy was born and reared in Dublin and came to live on Cape Cod in 2005. He has a passion for his homeland and loves to share his knowledge and interest about his heritage through classes, workshops and conversation. He is a teacher of Irish history, music, and dance. Over the past fifteen years he has taught courses at the Irish Cultural Center of New England in Canton, Cape Cod Sons of Erin, Cape Cod Cultural Center, the Cotuit Center for the Arts, and at venues on Nantucket. Sean Murphy has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree from Trinity College Dublin’s department of Economic and Social Studies; a BSC in Mathematics and Physics from London University; and qualified as a Management Accountant with the Dublin Business School. He is a nationally certified Business Mentor.

Registration is required for this online Zoom event.