“Early in 1845, to all appearances, there was going to be a fine crop as the potatoes grew well and were far advanced for the time.  However, in the later days of June a dense fog came in from the sea and lasted three or four days.  When the fog cleared away the potato stalks withered away in a couple of nights.  The fields became black and, in a week’s time, not a stalk remained. Ever since the year of the Famine is know here locally as Bliáin na Sceidan.”