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The Potato Famine of 1845 was an event that destroyed Ireland's agriculture. The Famine had a great effect on the population of Ireland. It destroyed farmer's crops, and forced many families to relocate in search of food. The potato was the main source of food in Ireland. The potato gave diseases to people that tried to eat it. Families without food mainly moved to America, Canada, and Australia. 1.3 million fled, creating ghost towns in once highly populated villages. The Irish did not all go overseas, in fact hundreds of thousands ended up in Britain and neighboring countries.

The potato was a staple crop in Ireland for many years. It fed large families, and was the main income for farmers. The Irish way of life was centered around the potato. Prior to the blight that destroyed the potatoes, there were only two strains of potato diseases. One was called "dry rot" and the other "curl". When Blight struck, it wiped out the entire crop, spreading across the country. The government of Ireland suggested opening ports for foreign corn, stopping the distillation from grain, or providing public works. The destruction of the potato had an immediate effect on the market. The end result of the Potato Famine left many starving and Ireland depopulated.