1.   If the bill passes, Massachusetts will join New York, New Jersey, and California as states where public school students are taught about the Irish famine.

2.   In June, the first memorial in the United States for Irish famine victims was unveiled on Cambridge Common.

3.   The current show on the Irish famine is drawing large crowds, Leavitt said, including many Irish Americans from all over New England.

4.   The Irish famine was brought on by the failure of the potato crop because of a devasting blight.

5.   Irish President Mary McAleese received an honorary degree and unveiled a memorial to Irish famine victims Tuesday at the start of a two-day official visit to Britain.