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The potato was introduced to Europe from South America in the late 16th century.
Although not hospitable to most crops, Irish terrain and weather was ideal for growing potatoes and they rapidly became the mainstay of the Irish diet and the major source of Irish income.
However, by late 1845 the potato blight, caused by the water mold Phytophthora infestans (which is believed to have been introduced to England by imported vegetables from the U.S.),
had infected about 50% of the Irish potato crop.
In January 1846 medical officers recorded a rise of influenza, jaundice, small pox, and particlarly diarrhea and dysentary, caused by eating blighted potatoes.
By June the potato blight infected all of Ireland. Most of the land was owned by English (due to historic land grants by earlier English royalty) and when the Irish tenants couldn't afford the rent, violence broke out,
against unreasonable English landlords and anyone else who was believed to be contributing to the unbearable situation.
Further exacerbating the poor economy, an 1847 Western European slump in the demand for Irish linen fabric resulted in Belfast linen mills decreasing employment by a half.
Throughout the period of the potato blight, Irish life continued to worsen with more famine, more disease, more unemployment, more violence, and depleted funds for famine relief.
This resulted in massive emigration, some of which was voluntary, whereas many were forced to emmigrate:
by English landholders who found it cheaper to pay for emigration than provide subsistance for tenants who could no longer afford the rent,
by Workhouses whose funding was decreased so they could no longer afford food and housing relief for the massive numbers of poor,
and by government deportations of prisoners found guilty of violence.
Irish people traveled to destinations all over the world, but most notably to the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
The "famine ships" were not cruise ships; most were converted cargo ships with cramped quarters, inadequate food, and rampant typhus (aka "ship fever") outbreaks.
The enormous number of shipboard deaths earned them the title of "coffin ships".
The 1851 census showed that the Irish population had fallen from 8,175,124 in 1841 to 6,552,385 in 1851, primarily through death and emigration.
Out of this horrid environment an industry of beautiful lace grew and spread throughout the world.
A small number Irish were making lace and selling it prior to the potato famine, going back to at least the mid-18th century. The most notable Irish lace-making centers were Carrickmacross (where they made applique and needlepoint laces) and Limerick (where tambour, needle-run, and applique laces were made on net backgrounds). After the onset of the famine, the above lace centers were expanded, and to provide an alternate means of making a living, philanthropists established cottage industries in Ardee (where tatting was practiced), Inishmacsaint, and Youghal (both where needlepoint laces were made). But of particular interest here, when the famine was in its early days, Cork and Clones became centers of Irish Crocheted Lace. At this time, all types of laces were primarily made of fine Irish linen threads, keeping the Irish linen industry alive as well.
It is unknown when and where crochet was first developed, although most believe it was originally applied to making warm clothing. But it is known that crocheted lacework was practiced and taught by the Ursuline Nuns of Blackrock, Co. Cork. They had discovered that expensive needlepoint laces, which were widely popular thoughout Europe, could be replicated more easily and more quickly with the crochet hook. In 1845 the Ursuline Nuns received £90 for items produced by their students. During the famine, crocheted lace from Cork was introduced to the London trade, becoming a popular, but cheaper and equally beautiful, alternative to needlpoint laces.
Before 1847, Mrs. W.C. Roberts of Thornton, Co. Kildare, taught poor people to knit woolen jackets. The jackets weren't economically successful, so she decided to try Irish crochet. The top 6 to 8 students were selected to study and produce for six months with the promise that upon completing their training, they would each teach at least 3 more students who would also make the same promise... until hundreds of people knew the skill, which they spread throughout Ireland. This scheme was mostly successful, particularly so in Clones. Mrs. Cassandra Hand (wife of Reverend Thomas Hand) requested a crochet instructor come to Clones. Although untrained in business matters, Mrs. Hand was a natural businesswoman. She set up a school in the Rectory and attracted numerous poor, but eager and talented students, from miles around Clones to learn "after the best models of skill and taste." She administered the classes, accepting only top-quality work. Innovation was encouraged and students replicated numerous styles of lace from all over Europe. They also developed trademark motifs. Mrs. Hand petitioned aristocrats, royalty, and major markets in Paris, New York, Vienna, Brussels, Rome, London, and Dublin to buy Clones Irish crocheted laces. Her administration and marketing, and the crocheters' diligence, resulted in an alternate way of making a living for hundreds of people, in addition to making Clones the major Northern Irish Center of crocheted lace.
Many a crocheter paid for her own passage and for the passage of loved ones, away from famine-stricken Ireland, with the profits from her work. They brought Irish crochet skills to their new homes, thus dispersing Irish crochet skills worldwide.
I have created an Irish Crochet Bibliography including how-to books, as well as books on the history of Irish Crochet and the Irish Potato Famine. Recommendations for additional sources will be gladly entertained.