I am aware that Protestants suffered in the famine. What you’re missing here is that the Famine was inflicted by the ruling class of Britain. They didn’t have any love for Protestant Ulstermen. In fact, the loyalty of NI Protestants has changed several times over the centuries. That said, there is no doubt that the ruling elites of the British Empire saw the famine as an opportunity to rid themselves of the Irish and their many problems once and for all. See “The Great Hunger” by Cecil Wodham Smith. She shied away from the descriptive “genocide” but by today’s standards what Britain did in Ireland 1847-1850 clearly constituted genocide.
No it did not.
Genocide is deliberate. The Irish Famine was characterised by British arrogance and incompetence, but as Vanders and Winnie pointed out, Britain made great efforts from 1846 onwards to alleviate the suffering. Buying huge stocks of American grain for example. Passing laws. Revoking restrictions on existing laws.
I know my Famine history thanks, I AM a qualified historian.