The Irish Famine of 1740-1741, Bliain an Air, meaning year of slaughter, killed at least 38% of the population, which was 2.4 million in 1740. The famine was caused by extremely cold and rainy weather in the preceding years. Grain harvests were seriously affected, causing a milk shortage. Potatoes also suffered from frost damage. Grains, at this time, were more of a staple to the Irish population than potatoes.

The Great Famine (1845-52) killed at least 1 million people, who starved to death due to the failure of the potato crop for several years. As the Irish population exploded to over 8 million, the masses of poor became heavily dependent on a single crop. Millions more emigrated. It's repercussions are felt today. The population has just recently passed 4 million.

The Irish War of Independence (1919-21) was a terrible time of social and political upheaval caused by the overthrow of British rule that had lasted centuries. It was marked by guerrilla warfare and reprisals were frequent. Total deaths were estimated at 2,014.

The turmoil continued during the Irish Civil War (1922-23). Pro-Treaty and Anti-Treaty forces battled over the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921) which had divided Ireland into a 26 county Free State and a 6 county Northern Ireland which remained inside the British Empire. Estimates of those killed during this time range from 1,900 to 4,000 with a high number of leaders targeted.

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