Irish Famine: Orphan Girls

There are many memorials worldwide to the Great Irish Famine of 1845-'49, in which one million Irish died, and another million were forced to emigrate - that's a quarter of the then population of 8 million. The Potato Famine left a deep psychological scar on the irish at home and abroad that resonates to this day. But how could a potato blight kill so many? True, potatoes were the staple of Irish peasants on subsistence plots - but the huge casualties were a result of political decisions by the colonial English government, which continued to export food from Ireland as desperate people tried to eat grass. 

This documentary traces the paths of some of the Famine survivors, who made it to Australia. These vulnerable single girls, aged 14-18 and mostly without family or friends, did surprisingly well. In a country where men outnumbered women 9:1 in rural parts, they were in great demand, both as domestic servants and as future brides. Over half married across religion and race - integrators of irishness in a British-run colony.But how much did their experiences, cultural and political background shape their new life? And what is their legacy today?

Descendants talk with humour and feeling about their resiient and feisty forebears. The moving Sydney memorial is another contributor, designed by an Iranian refugee, Hossein Vallamanesh, and his wife Angela, with sound design by Paul Carter. Irish traditional music enhances these emotional stories, allowing them to breathe.