They also ate native berries and nuts. After Europeans colonized America, bringing the potato back to Europe, potatoes became the most important crop in Ireland. Potatoes are very good sources of energy, so the Irish population began to grow in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 1800s, however, Britain ruled over Ireland and required that most Irish produce be exported to Britain. As a result of this policy and a disease affecting many potatoes, Ireland suffered the infamous Great Irish Famine, and millions died or left the country.
Today, Ireland has recovered from the famine. The Irish countryside is covered in farms producing milk, cows, pigs, sheep and grains. Farming is also an important part of Irish culture. In September, I attended the National Ploughing Championships, where hundreds of thousands of people gather to see innovations in farming tools and techniques, and to watch top farmers compete to plough the straightest rows of soil. The Ploughing Championships is one of the biggest events in Ireland, proving how important farming is to the culture of the Irish people.
Like all citizens of the globe, Irish farmers are preparing for climate change with fear. As temperatures rise and rainfall amounts begin to change, crops will not grow as they used to. Farmers will have to adjust what they grow and when they grow it, potentially affecting what products are available to buy in Irish cities. Furthermore, farmers will need to change some of their methods to avoid making climate change even worse. While agriculture is Ireland's largest "indigenous" (or native) industry, it is also the country's biggest industrial cause of gas emissions.
