1Recognizing October 2013 as "The Great Hunger Remembrance Month"
2in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, The Irish population exploded in the first half of
4the 19th century, reaching about 8.5 million by 1845; and

5WHEREAS, More than half the population of Ireland was
6dependent on the potato as a source of food because this crop
7produced more food per acre than wheat and could also be sold as
8a source of income; and

9WHEREAS, The type of potato most favored among the Irish was
10the Arran Banner; and

11WHEREAS, The Arran Banner was highly susceptible to the
12fungus Phytophthora infestans, commonly known as blight, which
13had spread from North America to Europe; and

14WHEREAS, Blight destroyed the potato crop starting in the
15autumn of 1845 and continuing through 1850; and

16WHEREAS, The British Government's decision to continue to
17export from Ireland food which could have fed starving people

1several times over contributed to the Great Hunger; and

2WHEREAS, The Great Hunger that plagued Ireland from 1845 to
31850 caused Ireland to lose 2 million people due to starvation,
4disease and forced emigration; and

5WHEREAS, Of those Irish who were forced to emigrate, nearly a
6third died aboard crowded and rickety vessels known as "coffin
7ships"; and

8WHEREAS, The Irish who survived the journey to the United
9States helped foster the growth of our cities, Commonwealth and
10nation by digging canals, mining coal, building railroads,
11founding steel companies and making significant contributions in
12the fields of business, education, government, industry,
13medicine, religion, science and philanthropy; and

14WHEREAS, Today the spirit of the Irish who were affected by
15the Great Hunger lives on in millions of Irish Americans;
16therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize October 2013 as "The
18Great Hunger Remembrance Month" in Pennsylvania.