Days Of Hunger: The Great Irish Famine 1845-1849

The population of Ireland in a 1841 census was given as 8.1 million people. Some believe that it could have been as high as 9 or even 10 million. The vast majority of the poor depended on one resource - the potato. One acre of land could grow enough potatoes to support a family. When a mans sons got married they would have erected a mud cabin, take a share of their father's land and start a family, that family would have subdivided again when their offspring were ready to marry so by the middle of the 19th century with the population at an alarming high rate the competition for land increased and rents rose dramatically. In the Autumn of 1845 a deadly disease struck the potatoes and the following year the crop was totally destroyed. The DVD Days of Hunger is the story of John Kane, his wife Catherine and their eight children who lived on a six acre holding near the village of Kilrea in Mid Ulster Ireland. John's only right of possession was his ability to pay the rent to his Landlord. The standard of living was always close to the poverty line. Based on a true story, Day's of Hunger follows the struggles of that family through the Irish famine years. Weddings, funerals, evictions, emigration and real video pictures of the blighted potatoes make this video a history lesson not to be missed. Co Mayo, West Cork and Donegal were the worst affected by the famine and horrifying tales from these parts are told, courtesy of The Coleraine Chronicle. This best selling documentary, is now used in a many schools in Ireland.