Ireland: Famine potato to make historic comeback

The variety of potato that so infamously succumbed to potato blight in the 1840s, heralding the onset of the Irish Potato Famine, will be made widely available in the country for the first time in 170 years. The so called Irish Lumper is being cultivated by a Country Antrim grower with an interest in the variety's history.

The variety was a quick hit in Ireland when first introduced in the early 19th century, being hailed for its nutritional benefits and easy cultivation, in even the poorest of soils.

The over dependence on one variety was to play apart in the epic scale of the famine. The blight susceptibility of the Lumper, coupled with such mass plantings, ensured that the vast majority of the island's crop was wiped out.

After such tragic events it is perhaps not surprising that the variety almost died out. Until now that is. Michael McKillop of Glens of Antrim Potatoes decided to give the variety a go.

“I had read in all the history books about its awful flavours and soapy texture of the Lumper, but I wanted to see for myself what this potato with a black history was like,” he said yesterday. “I grew a few and was amazed at how good they tasted.”

The version he has cultivated is said to be improved on the original and next week will appear on the shelves of Marks & Spencer for a limited thee week promotional period.

Source: irishtimes.com