Forgotten Heroes of Ireland’s Great Hunger

Humans are fallible and heroes are not perfect. Certain situations, however, can give rise to behaviour that is beyond expectation and makes a difference to the well-being of other people. In the context of Ireland's Great Hunger, even small acts of selflessness or generosity could make the difference between suffering or survival, life or death. The men and women examined in this volume are part of a wider story that follows on from the heroes explored in volumes one and two of this series. The extraordinary circumstances in Ireland after 1845 prompted them to act in ways that were sometimes acknowledged, but often not made public. While their contributions varied, they nevertheless were important. This book also breaks new ground in its examination of recently discovered archival records of Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee First Nations' contributions for Irish Famine relief in Canada West (now Ontario) in 1847, while offering a fresh perspective on the widely commemorated Native American and Indigenous Peoples' donations. From a French celebrity chef in London to Protestant clergy in County Mayo, this publication recovers the forgotten contributions of a diverse group of people whose actions add a level of complexity to understanding Ireland's Great Hunger.