More interstingly Ard, is there any specific lesson we can learn from the fact that without doubt (for most of us) the British government behaved abominably on this occasion.

Is there really anything we can take from the history of the famine that will help us get through to a more peaceful future?

I think possibly we can take one thing, without a great expense of imagination.

Namely that we (the English) have to tread as sensitively as possible if we do not wish to offend. I think, nearly everybody knew that putting English soldiers onto the streets of Northern Ireland was a mistake. The uniform was simply too offensive and emotive a symbol. Perhaps not quite as bad as SS men doing police duty in Tel Aviv, but getting on that way. For a variety of historic reasons, they were simple unacceptable.

But I'm sure theres more. Maybe you can point them out to us.