Human: When did the Irish Potato Famine start and when did it end? Assistant: 
The Irish Potato Famine started in 1845 and lasted until 1852. It was caused by a combination of factors, including bad weather, a disease called blight, and a series of poor harvests. In 1845, the Irish population had grown to 8 million people, but by 1852, it had fallen to 4 million people. The famine led to a mass emigration of Irish people to North America, and also to the creation of the Irish diaspora.