In southern Ireland there are a lot of what are called "famine houses" the empty houses of people who vacated their homes during the famine or at some later time.
As we toured around sourthern Ireland nine years ago, the wife and I would observe these sad reminders of the famine and wonder about the people who left their homes and either made it to another country or starved to death.
As we stayed at a B&B near Doolin, we wondered why we hadn't seen any of the famine houses on the way to the town from our last stop.
As we opened the window in our room, across the road was a famine house.