[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF THE IRISH FAMINE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recall the millions of Irish 
men, women, and children lost to the tragic Irish famine of 1845-50. 
This was one of the darkest chapters in modern history, and one that 
changed the face of both the United Kingdom and the United States as a 
result.
  The Irish famine took as many as 1 million lives from hunger and 
disease. It sparked a huge wave of immigration as another 2 million 
Irish fled, most of them to the United States.
  Numbers such as these, however, are often difficult to comprehend. I 
find that some of the personal stories of the famine bring it closer to 
home. Consider these tragic deaths reported in the Cork Reporter of 
January 11, 1847: Catherine Sheehan, a 2-year-old girl who died the day 
after Christmas 1846 after eating nothing but seaweed that last several 
days of her life. John Driscoll, who fell dead of starvation walking 
home from his job at a public works project after 2 days of nothing but 
boiled wheat. Michael Linehan, who died on his way home from an 
adjoining town, where he had gone to purchase food for his fever-
stricken mother and brother. Mr. Linehan had had only turnip peels to 
eat.
  These are but a few of the stories of the famine. Many such stories 
will be recalled as the Bergen County Council of Irish Associations 
holds a ceremony in solemn remembrance of those who perished in the 
famine November 15 at the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack, NJ. 
Remarks will be offered by Bishop Charles J. McDonnell, Father Donald 
Sheehan, and Bergen County Executive William ``Pat'' Schuber, and 
others at the Great Hunger Monument located next to the courthouse. 
This ceremony will serve as a reminder that the disaster created by 
famines still haunts the world.
  During the Irish famine, a blight turned Ireland's staple crop of 
potatoes to ruin. Over 1 million people died and millions others were 
forced to leave their homeland to escape starvation. In 1847--the year 
known to Irish around the world as ``Black '47''--the famine took its 
worst toll. As thousands died that year, nearly 100,000 Irish 
immigrants left their homeland and arrived in the United States.
  The failure of the British Government in London to provide immediate 
assistance has been acknowledged as one of the factors in the extent of 
the famine. Prime Minister Tony Blair this summer offered this apology:

       Those who governed in London at the time failed their 
     people through standing by while a crop failure turned into a 
     massive human tragedy. * * * That 1 million people should 
     have died in what was then part of the richest and most 
     powerful nation in the world is something that still causes 
     pain as we reflect on it today.

  As I have noted, millions of Irish came to the United States--seen as 
the land of plenty--to escape the famine. Those who came made up one of 
the greatest waves of immigration in our history and permanently 
enriched our society and culture. Their hard work, determination, and 
resilience helped fuel the tremendous growth of our country.
  The Irish quickly adjusted to their new home and started to move up 
in society. From tough, long hours in labor intensive jobs, Irish-
Americans entered professions such as education, politics, and 
government service by the turn of the century. They sent much of their 
hard-earned money home to help families or to pay for passage to 
America.
  One area where Irish-Americans proved themselves quickly was in 
service to their new country. Many new Irish-Americans fought bravely 
during the Civil War. In fact, 263 Congressional Medals of Honor were 
awarded to Irish-born servicemen, by far the largest number of any 
ethnic group. Subsequent generations carried this tradition into the 
Nation's other wars.
  The hard work, determination, patriotism, and valor of Irish-
Americans has made a distinguished mark on American history. Their 
contribution to our Nation will never be forgotten. We only wish that 
it might have been better circumstances that brought them here.

                          ____________________