The Starving Times: Voices from the Irish Famine — Book 1: O'Neill Family, County Cork, October 1845 By S. Ó Mórdha In the autumn of 1845, the potato blight crept across Ireland, leaving ruin in its wake. In The Starving Times: Voices from the Irish Famine , we follow the O'Neill family from County Cork, just one among countless Irish families thrust into unimaginable hardship. As famine tightens its grip, their quiet rural life unravels. Crops fail, hunger spreads, and disease festers. Workhouses overflow, relief is scarce, and the British government's response remains tragically inadequate. Driven by desperation and hope, the O'Neills join the wave of emigrants aboard a "coffin ship," risking the perilous Atlantic crossing to America. Their journey is harrowing, rife with death, disease, and sorrow. In New York, they face yet another struggle: poverty, discrimination, and the haunting memories of the homeland they were forced to leave behind. Told through intimate, emotional voices, this powerful historical narrative captures the physical, emotional, and psychological toll of the Great Hunger. The O'Neills' journey is a testament to resilience amidst devastation, a legacy echoed in the lives of millions of Irish descendants today. Book 1 marks the beginning of an epic series honoring the forgotten voices of a people scarred by famine, yet unbroken in spirit. S. Ó Mórdha is a lover of history and writer with a deep passion for illuminating the hidden voices of the past. Drawing on meticulous research and a keen understanding of Ireland's cultural and historical landscape, Ó Mórdha brings the human cost of the Great Famine to life through vivid, emotionally resonant storytelling. With Irish roots and a background in historical studies, Ó Mórdha is dedicated to exploring themes of displacement, survival, and resilience. The Starving Times: Voices from the Irish Famine — Book 1: O'Neill Family, County Cork, October 1845 is the first in a sweeping historical fiction series that gives voice to those silenced by suffering and history alike. Through this work, Ó Mórdha seeks to honor the legacy of Ireland's lost generation and the enduring spirit of its people. When not writing, Ó Mórdha is often found researching family histories, walking the landscapes of rural Ireland, or speaking at historical and literary events focused on diaspora and memory. O Mordha honours resilience, memory, and the voices lost to history. The Last Harvest - October 1845, County Cork The Darkening Sky - November 1845, County Cork The Silent Cry - December 1845, County Cork The Barren Fields -January 1846, County Cork The Choice - February 1846, County Cork Leaving the Land Behind - March 1846, County Cork The Ocean's Fury - March 1846, Atlantic Ocean The Weight of the Dead- March 1846, Atlantic Ocean Two Days from Arrival – April 1846, Atlantic Ocean The death of Niamh - April 1846, Atlantic Ocean New York Harbour – The Land of the Living? - April 1846 The Price of Survival - May 1846, New York – The Land of Ghosts The O'Neills' New Start in America: The Ghosts of Ireland June 1846, New York City The Ghosts of the Past, the Echoes of Today - Cork, Ireland . Summer 2025 Ireland Today: Reflections on the Past