I'd tend to go along with Murray and with Guest Santa.

GUEST,O'Cathain - 09 Sep 03 - 03:07 AM the post by ollaimh of the 25 Jul 01, which you heartily agree is nothing more than simplistic historical clap-trap.

If you are actually interested in the History of the British Isles (geographic, not political, definition), I would advise you to read a book by a Canadian naval historian N. A. M. Roger called "Safeguard of the Seas" - gives quite an illuminating insight into the period from 660 to 1649. If you want to know the facts about people, "...   meddling in other people's affairs for many centuries..." and who for centuries were the real, "...scourge of the celtic isles," Then you will find it all in that book - It will no doubt surprise you to find out that the English were far more sinned against than sinner. The real culprits of the piece, more often than not, were the Spaniards and the French.