only a few crops for food that are subject to random blights

Not-so-fun-fact: Ireland always had plenty of crops. It’s just that the English stole them all and only let them keep the potatoes. The scarcity was manufactured, and the blight wouldn’t have been as devastating if the rest of the crops weren’t being extracted.

The Ottomans tried sending food but the English rejected it because they thought it would make them look bad if a foreign government was helping and not them.

there’s little wood for heating

Plenty of sheep’s manure for that. Or peat.

and an oppressive power next door stepping on your neck

Got no argument there, but it does result in some kickass folk tunes.

Ireland is a beautiful place with a harsh history.

Yes, yes indeed.