FROM IRELAND TO AMERICA

In 1845 there was a cold, wet summer in Ireland. The potato crop failed and people had nothing to eat.
Nearly a million people, died of famine or disease.
Some people left Ireland to start a new life in America. They went to Liverpool where they hoped to take a
boat to America. In Liverpool, there were emigrants from all over Europe. They were all waiting to go to America.
Mary O’Casey and her family left Ireland in 1845. the journey to Liverpool took 36 hours. This is Mary’s
story.
“At last we arrived in Liverpool. A man came up to us at the quayside.”Do you need accommodation?” he
asked. “I know a good place. It’s cheap and it’s not too far. You can walk there in about five minutes. It’s a lodging
house in Moorfields”. Then the man asked: “Have you got your boat tickets for America? Because I can get them
for a special price”. We gave the man some money and he went to get the tickets but then he disappeared. We
followed the man’s directions, but we didn’t find the lodging house. We never saw our money again. As a result, we
slept on the quayside for five days, waiting for our ship.
There were 476 people in our ship and 158 died of fever during the crossing, which took fourteen weeks.
When we arrived in America, my husband and I found work on a farm. Our son is learning to read and write
now, and one day we’re going to take him back to Ireland, to show him where he came from.

NOW PUT THE EVENTS IN THE CORRECT ORDER

1 …… 2 …… 3 …… 4 …… 5 …… 6 …… 7 …… 8 …… 9 ……

a) They met a man who knew about some cheap accommodation.

b) The journey took fourteen weeks.
c) The man left them and did not return.
d) People arrived in Liverpool.
e) Finally, they sailed to America.
f) So, while they were waiting for their ship, they slept on the quayside.
g) They gave the man some money.
h) In 1845, there was a cold wet summer in Ireland.
i) They now had five days to wait for the next ship, but they didn’t have anywhere to stay.