Actually that is not true, I have seen figures that during the famine Ireland imported more grain than it exported.
As for so called conservatives who complain about farmers selling the crops for profit instead of just giving it to the poor. All that would of done would bankrupt the landowner and mean more unemployed needing to be fed.
If you mean the government should of bought all the grain and distribute it to the poor. To me that sounds like the government should be in health care because the poor needs it same argument.
People should remember that government disaster aid and FEMA and such was another century away. They did the best they could do.
The potato famine killed many Irish and sent so many others into exile in other countries.
The British government could have dealt with the famine by not insisting on the export of grain to other countries.
Comparing famine relief to universal health care schemes is a false choice.