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An Gorta Mor, the Irish Famine 1845-1852

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Ireland was suffering a terrible fate People were dying at an alarming rate The potato crop failed because of the blight Little help was given now that wasn't right. The rich fed their faces with meat so lean Whilst the poor people starved now I call that obscene Their fault it was not but you let them die The horrors they suffered a grown man would cry. The greed of the landlords they showed no pity Had to make profits for their masters in the city They evicted the dying, victims of the blight How in Gods name did they sleep at night ?. Men, women and children were dropping down dead Profits before people that you could have fed You exported the grain to feed the elite Whilst the poor people of Ireland were dying at your feet. "An act of God "said Trevelyan, now that was shocking To use that as an excuse to do little or nothing You weren't alone though, Clergy said it too How simple minded you all were to think that was true. You all looked away, you all have no shame Did not do enough, found others to blame One day you'll be judged though and that is a fact And you can all tell God why you didn't act. Written on 17th November 2017

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017




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Date: 9/3/2022 5:21:00 PM
A depressing reflection on the character of humans Once we consider the amount of suffering that exists in the world, we are all guilty of not doing enough to alleviate it.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/4/2022 11:05:00 AM
Thank you Lasaad, hard to believe that in this day and age and all the wealth in the world there are people starving and many having to rely on food banks. Hope you had a good trip. Tom
Date: 5/29/2020 7:40:00 PM
G'day Tom … truly a tragic time in history. Thank God there is more protection today it would happen again. The rich and poor are still divided - thanks Tom - Lindsay
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/29/2020 8:07:00 PM
Certainly not England's finest hour Lindsay, they could have done a lot more to help the starving but chose not to. Tom
Date: 2/18/2018 9:44:00 PM
God will indeed judge. Nice write!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/19/2018 4:00:00 AM
Thank you Kim, such a tragedy that even today is allowed to happen. Tom
Date: 2/4/2018 9:45:00 AM
Some of my ancestors came from Cork to America because of this potato plight; another awesome historical write Tom!~Che :)
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/4/2018 11:18:00 AM
Thanks Cheryl. A lot of the Irish emigrated all over the world, you go to some remote place in the world and you'll always find an Irish bar,I love a pint of Guinness. My parents came from Co Clare on the west coast. Have been to Cork, lovely place, last port of call for the ill fated Titanic from what was then Queenstown, now Cobh. Regards Tom.
Date: 1/20/2018 1:14:00 AM
This is so powerful and the last two lines are amazing; it is very sad this is not an uncommon situation needy people face :(
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/20/2018 1:46:00 AM
Thank you Sneha, it does rile me that rich countries' spend billions on weapons that they will never use. They could feed the poor of the world ten times over. Sad that even today there are people dying of hunger. Regards Tom.
Date: 1/16/2018 10:51:00 AM
Tom your words bought a huge lump to my throat and reminded me of a song i always request when we have the pleasure of going to Dublin - 'the fields of Athenry' it never fails to bring a tear to my eye:-( hugs jan xx
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/16/2018 12:11:00 PM
Jan, And of course the song is about those sad times, and sadly hunger goes on even today. Regards Tom.
Date: 12/16/2017 8:51:00 AM
Tom, I love your poetry coupled with a lesson from history. I'd love to see one on the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (its fascinating and so sad) and of course the Edmund Fitzgerald as I'm from Michigan. Would you be so kind as to oblige?
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 12/16/2017 1:44:00 PM
Rhoda, I'll do some research on both tragedies' and work something out. Regards Tom.
Date: 12/16/2017 8:51:00 AM
Tom, I love your poetry coupled with a lesson from history. I'd love to see one on the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (its fascinating and so sad) and of course the Edmund Fitzgerald as I'm from Michigan. Would you be so kind as to oblige?
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Date: 12/15/2017 1:00:00 AM
A sad commentary on human beings. All of us are guilty of not doing enough when we consider the amount of suffering in the world.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 12/15/2017 2:44:00 AM
It was a sad time and you would think that we would learn from past mistakes, but sadly it goes on even today. Regards Tom

Book: Shattered Sighs