To Whom it may Concern,
As the National President of the largest Irish American organization in the United States, I am writing to demand that you immediately cease airing your advertisement concerning the promotion for foods referencing the “Irish Famine”.
The “Potato Famine”, as it is sometimes called, was actually a forced hunger which took place in Ireland between 1845 and 1852, which killed over one and a half million of its people. This starvation, or as it is called in Ireland, “An Gorta Mor” which means the “Great Hunger”, was man made by the English absentee landlords who refused to let the Irish peasants eat anything other than the potato. This is well documented in history that while the Irish people starved for lack of one crop which happened to be their staple, the potato crop, meat, vegetables, corn and other foods were raised and harvested in Ireland and exported to England under guard to be sold for profit. By the way, Ireland was not the only country where the potato crop failed, it started in N. America and spread to Europe yet no other country had a famine.
You have the audacity to make fun of the these people who died of starvation much worse than any genocide ever recorded in history, so that you can sell your product on the back of our dead ancestors. I have already contacted our members throughout the United States where Denny’s has a franchise to be ready to mobilize when needed. I am appalled at your advertisement as are all Irish and Irish Americans. We are not the only Irish American organization in the United States who are ready to let you know how we feel about our ancestors defamation so you can sell a product and make a profit.
I ask that you contact me immediately and hopefully you will cease and desist from airing this vile and disrespectful advertisement. All my contact information is contained on my letterhead.
Seamus Boyle
National President
Ancient Order of Hibernians in America
As the National President of the largest Irish American organization in the United States, I am writing to demand that you immediately cease airing your advertisement concerning the promotion for foods referencing the “Irish Famine”.
The “Potato Famine”, as it is sometimes called, was actually a forced hunger which took place in Ireland between 1845 and 1852, which killed over one and a half million of its people. This starvation, or as it is called in Ireland, “An Gorta Mor” which means the “Great Hunger”, was man made by the English absentee landlords who refused to let the Irish peasants eat anything other than the potato. This is well documented in history that while the Irish people starved for lack of one crop which happened to be their staple, the potato crop, meat, vegetables, corn and other foods were raised and harvested in Ireland and exported to England under guard to be sold for profit. By the way, Ireland was not the only country where the potato crop failed, it started in N. America and spread to Europe yet no other country had a famine.
You have the audacity to make fun of the these people who died of starvation much worse than any genocide ever recorded in history, so that you can sell your product on the back of our dead ancestors. I have already contacted our members throughout the United States where Denny’s has a franchise to be ready to mobilize when needed. I am appalled at your advertisement as are all Irish and Irish Americans. We are not the only Irish American organization in the United States who are ready to let you know how we feel about our ancestors defamation so you can sell a product and make a profit.
I ask that you contact me immediately and hopefully you will cease and desist from airing this vile and disrespectful advertisement. All my contact information is contained on my letterhead.
Seamus Boyle
National President
Ancient Order of Hibernians in America
