Irish potato famine and how they were helped by Chocotaw Indians

[Deathraystare]

Hopefully I spelled that right!

Was listening on you Tube about the potato famine and do vaguely remember when Covid struck decades and decades later, the Irish people paid back the Chocotaw (sp?) Indians by funding presumably vaccinations for them. I believe at the time although the Indians would have not had much themselves they sent stuff to the Irish during the potato famine.

Anyone read anything that talks about this?

Lots of food was sent to Ireland during the potato famine. Importunely, red tape/ politics etc . much of it didn't reach starving people

I know there's a memorial sculpture to the Choctaw in County Cork, to commemorate the donation.

Ok. I will keep digging!

@goodfriend

Yes. Most went to feed the cattle of the English landowners! ·

This is the sculpture

maybe some did, many tons just rotted on the quayside

Wow what a beautiful sculpture

The saddest thing of all really is that during the famine aside from potatoes crops were bountiful, there was no shortage of food, but the starving Irish people weren't allowed to eat it because it didn't belong to them.

I haven't read it but The Long March by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick is about this, it's aimed at children I think but might interest you.

Also this article has some links and info www.choctawnation.com/about/history/irish-connection/

There are a lot of articles online about this, a huge amount of coverage in Ireland over the COVID donation and certainly it is taught in Irish history classes (apparently Queen Victoria donated less to famine relief than the Choctaw....)

There is a great podcast called the Irish Passport and they did an episode on this. soundcloud.com/theirishpassport/irish-and-native-american-solidarity

www.historynet.com/how-the-irish-are-returning-an-old-favor-to-the-choctaw-nation/

Beautiful sculpture.

The Ottoman Sultan sent money and aid too.He had to match the amount sent by Queen Victoria.

www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/generous-turkish-aid-irish-great-hunger

Thanks Everyone and what a lovely sculpture!!

I remember reading an article about it ... maybe the thing to do would be to track down an article as a starting point.

Yet another example of where a good history forum here would be nice.

I've always loved this story - when you considered what the Choctaw Nation was experiencing itself (and from white people!), I think it's an amazing act of generosity.

Choctaw Nation/people, not bloody Indians.