Dr Christine Kinealy a fellow at the University of Liverpool the publisher of two books on the famine states in the 1998 "History Ireland", "that almost 4,000 vessels carried food from Ireland to the ports of Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool and London during the worst period of the famine 1847, a year when 400,000 Irish died of starvation and related diseases.
The food was shipped under guard from the most famine-stricken parts of Ireland, Ballina, Ballyshannon, Bantry, Dingle, Killala, Kilrush, Limerick, Sligo, Tralee and Westport.

A wide variety of commodities left Ireland during 1847, including peas, beans, onions, rabbits, salmon, oysters, herring, lard, honey, tongues, animasl skins,etc.

Dr Kinealy`s detailed research proves beyond doubt that there was sufficient food in Ireland to prevent mass starvation, and that food was brought through the worst famine-stricken areas on its way to England.
British regiments guarded the ports and warehouses in Ireland to guarantee absentee landlords and commodity speculators their "free market" profits.

Trevelyan the British Minister in charge put the blame on the will of God and offered this comforting advice, let nature take its course.