PRINTER'S NO.  1489

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

No.

203

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY STACK AND RAFFERTY, OCTOBER 8, 2009

  

  

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 8, 2009  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Recognizing October 2009 as "The Great Hunger Remembrance Month"

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in Pennsylvania.

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WHEREAS, The Irish population exploded in the first half of

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the 19th century, reaching about 8.5 million by 1845; and

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WHEREAS, More than half the population of Ireland was

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dependent on the potato as a source of food because this crop

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produced more food per acre than wheat and could also be sold as

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a source of income; and

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WHEREAS, The type of potato most favored among the Irish was

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the Arran Banner; and

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WHEREAS, The Arran Banner was highly susceptible to the

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fungus Phytophthora infestans, commonly known as blight, which

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had spread from North America to Europe; and

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WHEREAS, Blight destroyed the potato crop starting in the

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autumn of 1845 and continuing through 1850; and

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WHEREAS, The British Government's decision to continue to

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export from Ireland food which could have fed starving people

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several times over contributed to the Great Hunger; and

 


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WHEREAS, The Great Hunger that plagued Ireland from 1845 to

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1850 caused Ireland to lose 2 million people due to starvation,

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disease and forced emigration; and

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WHEREAS, Of those Irish who were forced to emigrate, nearly a

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third died aboard crowded and rickety vessels known as "coffin

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ships"; and

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WHEREAS, The Irish who survived the journey to the United

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States helped foster the growth of our cities, Commonwealth and

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nation by digging canals, mining coal, building railroads,

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founding steel companies and making significant contributions in

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the fields of business, education, government, industry,

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medicine, religion, science and philanthropy; and

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WHEREAS, Today the spirit of the Irish who were affected by

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the Great Hunger lives on in millions of Irish Americans;

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therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize October 2009 as "The

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Great Hunger Remembrance Month" in Pennsylvania.

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