Irish Lumper facts for kids

The Irish Lumper is a special kind of white potato with a long and important history. It was grown a lot in Ireland before the 1840s. This potato is sadly linked to the terrible Great Irish Famine. During this time, about 1 million people died because there wasn't enough food.

Growing the Irish Lumper

The 'Irish Lumper' potato was known for being easy to grow. It could grow well even in garden beds that didn't have many nutrients or were very wet. This made it perfect for the farming conditions in Ireland, especially in the western parts, until the 1840s.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Ireland said the Lumper was a "very old variety." People knew about it as early as 1808. It was described as a "coarse species" in 1835. Farmers often used it to feed their animals because it produced so many potatoes.

The Great Famine and the Lumper

In the 1840s, a plant disease called Phytophthora infestans attacked potato crops. This disease ruined many harvests year after year. It led to widespread famine and caused many people to leave Ireland. This period, along with other challenges, caused Ireland's total population to drop by about 2 million people. Around 1 million of these were deaths from the famine.

After almost disappearing, the 'Irish Lumper' potato started to be grown again in 2008. Michael McKillop from County Antrim began growing it as an heirloom variety to sell.

How the Irish Lumper Tastes

The 'Irish Lumper' potato has been described as a "wet, knobbly old potato." When you boil it, its texture is more "waxy" than "floury." This means it has a bit less starch compared to other white potatoes.

Learning with the Lumper

Schools in Ireland are now growing the Irish Lumper as a way to teach history. They plant them in raised garden beds, just like people did during the 1840s. This helps students understand what life was like during that important time.