What is commonly known as Ireland's Great Famine of 18451849 was a catastrophic tragedy that has embedded itself in the island's consciousness. The crop collapse and the political decisions around it decimated the island's population changing the course of Irish history. World history was also affected by a resultant wave of mass migration that spread Irish culture abroad, particularly to the United States. This documentary aired on the A&E cable channel in 1996. A small portion is missing at the 1:12:58 point (it is marked by a program ID) but the documentary and its information are basically intact and it is well worth watching.