Our story starts in the mid nineteenth century when Ireland was forced to export its lifeblood to the four corners of the globe due to unfolding events at home.

In 1845, a disease infected the potato crop all over Ireland. The potato being the main food source of the Irish, resulted in an horrific, deadly famine. The Great Famine (an Gorta Mor in Irish) was a watershed in Irish history. Its effects permanently changed the island's demographic, political and cultural landscape. For both the native Irish and those of the resulting diaspora, the famine entered folklore and became a rallying point for various nationalist movements which continues to shape Ireland today. The greatest impact of the Great Famine was emigration which continued until the second half of the 20th century. Although the famine itself probably resulted in about 1 million deaths, emigration caused the population to drop by a further 3 million in the decades after the famine.

From Famine Ships To Partnerships

About 1.5 million of these are estimated to have emigrated to the USA and Canada on hastily constructed and flimsy famine ships. The journey across the Atlantic added to the woes and misery of the Irish emigrants and accounted for numerous lives resulting in the ships being known as “Coffin Ships”. Prior to departing Ireland, it also became common practice to hold ‘emigrant wakes’, sometimes called ‘American wakes’. Friends and family would gather to celebrate the departure of the person. For most, it may as well have been a death in the family, as few emigrants ever returned to see their loved ones again.

Jeannie Johnson Replica Famine Ship at her moorings on the river Liffey in Dublin

Today, an estimated 70 million people world-wide can claim Irish heritage. Centuries of being dispossessed of land and being prevented from benefiting from what the land can provide, has resulted in the land and the soil itself having a significance to the Irish which is not easily understood outside of the diaspora.

The Auld Sod Gifts seeks to honor this heritage by making it possible to own and use a little piece of Ireland no matter how far from the Emerald Isle you are.

Contact Information

Tim Macdougald - Director of Corporate Affairs, Finance & Administration This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Padraig (Pat) DeBurca - Director of Production & Logistics This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sales Office:

Auld Sod Gifts
458 Hurricane Lane
Williston, VT 05495

T: (877) 429-2299  -  (802) 876-5194
F: (877) 876-5101

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W: www.auldsodgifts.com