Kate Nash on Irish history, heritage and covering Sinéad O'Connor

Singer-songwriter Kate Nash has recorded a cover of Sinéad O'Connor's 1994 song "Famine" to spark a conversation about England's historical role in Ireland's Great Famine. Born in London to an Irish mother, Nash has strong ties to Irish culture and spent her childhood holidays in the Republic of Ireland. The song, which she revisited after O'Connor's death in 2023, struck Nash not only by its powerful message but also by her limited knowledge of the subject matter.

Nash believes many English people are disconnected from their own history and aims to educate herself and others about the famine. She points out that when she says "English people don't know their history," she includes herself in that statement. During her time in the United States, Nash met music producer Kool Kojak, who encouraged her to explore her Irish heritage through music.

After O'Connor's passing, Kojak suggested recording "Famine," which Nash embraced as an opportunity to bring the message of the song to a new audience.

In her cover of "Famine," Nash added a new verse reflecting her dual identity and England's responsibility for the destruction caused by the empire and its commonwealth. The song highlights the importance of teaching Anglo-Irish history in English schools, as the subject is not routinely covered in the Republic of Ireland. Nash emphasizes the need for teachers to have the support and resources to teach challenging topics, such as the Great Famine, which resulted in the deaths of over one million people and the emigration of about two million in the following decade.