Da | Historical Context
Irish History
Leonard's play makes reference to several key events in the history of Ireland. In act 1, Charlie explains to the ghost of Da that he had told Drumm of Da's grandfather and two uncles ‘‘starving in the Famine.’’ Da replies, ‘‘Oh, aye. Them was hard times. They died in the ditches.’’ To which Charlie, incredulous, replies, ‘‘What ditches? I made it up!’’ Charlie is referring to the Irish Potato Famine, also called the Great Potato Famine, or the Great Irish Famine, of 1845-1849. Crop failures caused by a blight resulted in...
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