On March 23, 1847, the first major wave of "famine ships" departed Irish ports for North America, marking the beginning of mass emigration during the Great Hunger. These vessels, often overcrowded and poorly equipped, carried desperate Irish citizens seeking escape from widespread starvation and disease. The appalling conditions aboard led to high mortality rates, earning them the grim nickname "coffin ships." This mass exodus profoundly impacted Ireland's demographics and fostered the growth of Irish communities across North America.
