Most people are unaware of the famine before An Gorta Mor. Bliain an Áir, meaning "The year of the slaughter" took place in 1741. A bizarre weather pattern lasting 2 years will cause an estimated 13% to 20% of the 2.4 million people of Ireland to die. This was a proportionately greater loss than during An Gorta Mor of 1845–1852. This weather is just really freaky especially what happened in fall of 1740.
There is a great book that will give you greater details - Arctic Ireland: the Extraordinary Story of the Great Frost and Famine of 1740-41 by David Dickson
Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions
