Portent of the Great Famine in December, 1844

In December, 1844, the Limerick Chronicle† contained a portent of the Great Famine of 1845–1852. In that edition was issued one of the earliest warnings of that looming and terrible visitation of the potato blight, famine, and disease in Ireland. A serious rot had been detected in the potato pits in several districts. At this…

Inaugural edition of The Armagh Guardian, 3rd September 1844

English-street at College-street; the Guardian building visible in the mid-ground. Image credit. On 3rd December 1844, John Thompson published the inaugural edition of his new weekly journal, The Armagh Guardian. At this juncture in his publishing career, he kept a general print shop at 63, English-street in Armagh. No matter how much and how loudly…