We present the first consistent and continuous data series for the Irish grain trade between 1840 and 1914. We show that imports rose massively over the period – particularly of wheat and maize – and this increase more than offset the precipitate decline in domestic production. This resulted in a three-fold increase in per capita wheat consumption in Ireland and brought it close to British levels by 1914. Most of this increase occurred before 1875. There was also a switch from importing grain directly from foreign producers to importing processed grain (meal) via Britain.