The main agricultural produce of Ireland is potatoes. Introduced in the late 16th century, potatoes quickly became a staple in the Irish diet due to their high yield and nutritional value. They played a crucial role in Ireland's agriculture and economy. Unfortunately, the reliance on this crop led to the devastating Great Famine in the 1840s when a potato blight caused widespread crop failure. Since then, potatoes have remained a symbol of Irish culture and cuisine, featured in various traditional dishes and still grown in many regions of the country.