Kendall, I did not say that Cromwell never shed blood in Ireland 9go back over what I said), so quoting a song from, let's face it, a partisan artist, hardly propels the argument forward. I thought some people might be interested in what Tom Reilly, the Irish author of "Cromwell An Honourable Enemy" said :
"I feel that many historians in Ireland are not ready yet for 'an honourable' Cromwell - nor indeed are the people of Ireland. I thought that I would change the history books and public opinion about this much maligned historical figure by publishing the truth about Cromwell's Irish campaign. The reaction - among the under forties on the whole - was good, but among historians and the over forties it was bad. They can't seem to accept such a fundamental flaw in Irish history ie that neither Cromwell or his men ever engaged in the killing of any unarmed civilians throughout his entire nine month campaign. The facts are there for all to see. But God bless Ireland the past is still the present here and we MUST have our English hate figures - despite the truth. How sad is that?"