In 1739 nearly 500,000 people died in Ireland due to what?

UT-7	In 1739 about 500,000 people died in Ireland due to widespread crop failure of potatoes. Sep 23 05, 12:51 PM

McGruff

1739–41 Famine killed one-third of population of 1.5 million. http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/countryfacts/ireland.html 1739 - Ireland Early frost destroyed the potato crop in Ireland and famine followed. http://sharpgary.org/1739-1816.html A scarcity in 1726-7 was followed by a severe famine in 1728-9. Then at the end of 1739 a sharp frost set in and lasted for seven weeks. Potatoes in store and in clamps in the fields were destroyed; cattle died; water-powered corn mills could not operate, and an ox was roasted on the ice on the frozen River Foyle. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/ni/famine.shtml The reliance on potatoes as a staple crop meant that the people of Ireland were vulnerable to poor potato harvests. Consequently several famines occurred throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The first great famine of 1739 was the result of extreme cold weather but the famine of 1846 to 1849 (see Irish potato famine) was caused by potato blight which easily spread throughout the Irish crop which heavily dependent on a single variety, the Lumper. Nearly 1,000,000 people died and another 2,000,000 emigrated, and some 3,000,000 people were left destitute. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_cuisine Mar 22 06, 10:24 AM