Ireland and the Great Famine

Module description

This module will introduce the student to the causes and consequences of the Great Irish Famine, when between 1845 and 1852 an estimated one million people died and a further one million migrated. While in terms of deaths the Great Irish Famine does not rank anywhere near a number of other such events – for example the Irish Famine, 1740-41, when approximately half-a-million of an estimated population of two-and-a-half million died, or the Great Bengal Famine, 1769-1773, which caused roughly 10 million deaths – it has remained a focus of popular memory and scholarly study.

To help attain this goal, students will study a range of secondary and primary sources, including: journals, newspapers, correspondence and eyewitness accounts.

Learning outcomes

1. Identify and understand the key causes and consequences of the Great Irish Famine
2. Contextualise the changes in Irish society as a result of the famine
3. Understand and analyse the broad range of primary and secondary source material which underpins the study of the Great Famine
4. Interpret and understand a broad range of historiographical arguments relating to the famine.
5. Students will construct a researched, structured and persuasive essay on an aspect of the Great Irish Famine
6. Students will develop skills in team work and group-research projects
7. Students will develop their oral communication skills through seminars and a formal group presentation

Readings

Students are provided with an extensive reading list outlining the main reference, general and Famine- specific works by historians. All of these are available through the Maynooth University Library, either in hard copy or as online resources. To identify additional works pertaining to the Great Irish Famine, students           are           encouraged           to           consult           Irish           History Online (https://catalogues.ria.ie/Presto/home/home.aspx), a bibliography of Irish history, and the Library online catalogue (https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/library).

Moodle

The course outline, lecture slides, reading list, course announcements and links to recommended websites will be posted on Moodle, the university’s online learning environment (moodle.nuim.ie).

Email

It is important that students check their Maynooth University email accounts regularly, all correspondence related to the module should be conducted through this.

Attendance, preparation and participation

Please note that it is expected that students are punctual for lectures. If you are late, please enter the lecture hall with the minimum of noise and disturbance. If you must leave early, please notify the lecturer in advance and sit where you will not disturb others upon leaving. Please ensure that you have signed in for class. Phones should not be used in class; laptops etc. should be used for class work only.

Citation and plagiarism

All submitted work should include footnotes and a bibliography based on Irish Historical Studies’ Rules for Contributors. An abbreviated version of this can be found in the history department’s Undergraduate Handbook. Online sources should be from a reputable repository and fully referenced. These are not a substitute to engagement with the historical arguments set out in the academic texts contained in the reading list. Students should also note the consequences of plagiarism as set in the Undergraduate Handbook, this can be viewed here:

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/Undergraduate%20Handbook

%20October%202018_0.pdf

All assignments must be accompanied by a fully completed cover sheet, which is available on Maynooth University Department of History website:

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/Cover%20sheet%20for%20His tory%20undergraduate%20assignments_1.pdf

Assessment

Assignment 1: Review of secondary source (15%) 750-word review Assignment 2: Analysis of primary sources (15%) 750 words

Assignment 3: Field-trip report (10%) 500 words

Assignment 4: Group presentation (30%). This will consist of a twenty-minute presentation based on a research topic chosen by the group. This topic should be agreed with the course lecturer and work on this will form a significant part of the module.

Assignment 5: Essay (30%) 1,500-word research essay.

Lecture Schedule