Ireland's Hardships. Ireland suffered many hardships in the past with storms, thunder, lightning and great floods. There was a great storm in Ireland in the year 1839. It was called the Big Wind. It commenced on Saturday evening and ended at 12 o'clock on Sunday. Saturday evening was perishing cold. It was getting worse by degrees and at midnight it was in all of its fury. The roofs of the houses were blown away by the gale. The light cattle were shifted off one field into another. This didn't happen the sheep as they were too low to the ground, but they were knocked on their backs and unable to moveC. Bailey