The growth of population inevitably caused subdivision. Population grew from a level of about 500,000 in 1000 AD to about 2 million by 1700, and 5 million by 1800. On the eve of the Great Famine the population of Ireland had risen to 8 million, most people living on ever-smaller farms and depending on the potato as a staple diet.
the growth of population inevitably caused subdivision population grew from a level of about 500000 in 1000 ad to about 2 million by 1700 and 5 million by 1800 on the eve of the great famine the population of ireland had risen to 8 million most people living on ever-smaller farms and depending on the potato as a staple diet