Can I ask a favour of the critics of this song? Do a digitrad advanced search using the terms 'Irish' and 'rebel'. See how many songs come up. Do a random sample of those songs and see how many mention the British as cowardly, brutal, savage or any other such term. I used to get in a bit of a tizzy about this but our good friend, Big Mick, and I had a long and sensible discusion about it and agreed that, after all, they were just songs. They reported important events of the time. They are a good folklorish tradition and help keep folk music alive and well.
Now can I ask another favour of the critics? Can you agree to do the same with this song. It is a record of a contemorary event done by a master of the contemporary folk song. It may or may not be entirely accurate. Are all the Irish rebel songs entirely accurate? Are you prepared to let the English celebrate an act of bravery in song? Or is that something only the Irish are allowed to do? Will you join me in not criticising someone elses culture because it is not something you are comfortable with?