The most popular history podcast in Ireland, Irish History Podcast, is currently running a series on the Great Irish Famine. The show’s host, Fin Dwyer, has recently completed an episode that looks at the impact of the Famine on the American Civil War, which largely consists of a detailed interview with yours truly. This is probably the longest and most wide-ranging discussion I have had in quite a while regarding Irish involvement in the Civil War, so if you are interested in finding out my current thoughts you can give it a listen below. Also be sure and check out Fin’s podcast, which has covered everything from modern Irish history to the Norman invasions– it really is worth a listen.

The Great Famine and the US Civil War by Irish History

The Great Hunger is not something we associate with war and certainly not wars in other countries. However the Famine is inextricably linked to the story of the American Civil War (1861-1865). Around 200,000 Irish people, most of them famine or post famine emigrants, fought in the conflict making it one of the largest wars in terms of Irish participation.

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