"Tim Pat Coogan (who you haven't read) is a respected writer, broadcaster and journalist."

Likewise Sir Max Hastings (who you haven't read) is an even more respected writer, broadcaster and journalist (I'd back his awards and peer opinion of him in all three fields against those of Coogan) yet you and your pals are somewhat dismissive of him for exactly the same reasons as you hail Coogan to be the font of all wisdom.

I'm with Keith - "if a professor of modern Irish history at University College Dublin tells us a book [Coogan's] is historically inaccurate [Detailing why}, I believe him."

Coogan is trotting out the same old brainwash myths because he knows they will help sales of his books in Ireland and in the US - bless him business after all is business.