Ireland's Arctic Siege of 1947

The Big Freeze of 1947

Nonfiction, History, Ireland, Modern, 20th Century
Cover of the book Ireland's Arctic Siege of 1947 by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D., Gill Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D. ISBN: 9780717151967
Publisher: Gill Books Publication: October 21, 2011
Imprint: Gill Books Language: English
Author: Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
ISBN: 9780717151967
Publisher: Gill Books
Publication: October 21, 2011
Imprint: Gill Books
Language: English

On 19 January 1947 Ireland was invaded by a freakish anticyclonic weather phenomenon unleashed from the depths of Siberia. Its prolonged two-month grip entombed the country in snow and ice.

This arctic siege brought freezing temperatures of 7° Fahrenheit -14°C, a piercing east wind reaching 60-70 m.p.h., five major blizzards, and snowdrifts of 12 to 20 feet-some topping 50.

Cars, buses, houses and entire villages were buried, leaving scores of passengers and inhabitants marooned. Roads were blocked, telephone and electricity lines felled and towns and farms isolated as food and fuel dwindled.

Tragically this happened amidst the worst fuel crisis in Ireland's history. People were forced to strip wood from their homes, and nearly half of all Dubliners were burning furniture to survive. Severe food shortages and a virulent influenza epidemic weakened people. By 19 February 1947 Dublin's death rate had more than doubled as the poor and elderly succumbed to hunger, cold and illness.

Kevin C. Kearns presents a graphic account of what was regarded as a near-biblical calamity of blizzards, freezing, hunger, floods, and threatened famine-so imperilling, wrote one newspaper, that it seemed almost as if the wrath of God was directed against Ireland.

It is a vivid tale of suffering and courage, death and survival, of human resilience and real heroism, poignantly authenticated by the oral testimony of those who lived through the arctic siege.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

On 19 January 1947 Ireland was invaded by a freakish anticyclonic weather phenomenon unleashed from the depths of Siberia. Its prolonged two-month grip entombed the country in snow and ice.

This arctic siege brought freezing temperatures of 7° Fahrenheit -14°C, a piercing east wind reaching 60-70 m.p.h., five major blizzards, and snowdrifts of 12 to 20 feet-some topping 50.

Cars, buses, houses and entire villages were buried, leaving scores of passengers and inhabitants marooned. Roads were blocked, telephone and electricity lines felled and towns and farms isolated as food and fuel dwindled.

Tragically this happened amidst the worst fuel crisis in Ireland's history. People were forced to strip wood from their homes, and nearly half of all Dubliners were burning furniture to survive. Severe food shortages and a virulent influenza epidemic weakened people. By 19 February 1947 Dublin's death rate had more than doubled as the poor and elderly succumbed to hunger, cold and illness.

Kevin C. Kearns presents a graphic account of what was regarded as a near-biblical calamity of blizzards, freezing, hunger, floods, and threatened famine-so imperilling, wrote one newspaper, that it seemed almost as if the wrath of God was directed against Ireland.

It is a vivid tale of suffering and courage, death and survival, of human resilience and real heroism, poignantly authenticated by the oral testimony of those who lived through the arctic siege.

More books from Gill Books

Cover of the book The Hidden Ireland – A Study of Gaelic Munster in the Eighteenth Century by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book The Food Nanny by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book My Name is Bridget by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Bertie Ahern: The Man Who Blew the Boom by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Make That Grade Organisational Behaviour by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Tony Ryan by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Irishology by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Dog Tales by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Nationalist Revolutionaries in Ireland 1858-1928 by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book King Dan Daniel O'Connell 1775-1829 by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book A Narrow Sea by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Minding Mum – It’s Time to Take Care of You by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book The Whiz Quiz Book by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book The Year of Disappearances by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
Cover of the book Rowdy Rhymes and Rec-im-itations by Professor Kevin C. Kearns, Ph.D.
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy