"like making daft 'guesses'"
A little arrogant assuming my opinions are "guesses" British politics has been a life-long interest of mine and personally, I have no interest in what Fred has to say on the matter, nor how he chooses to say it - my opinions, beliefs and understandings are my own, nobody elses.   
Don't you think that lumping us together as "you guys" appears to rule out the idea that any of us possess the ability of independent thought? - and that our life experiences count for nothing?
I know what I know, I believe what I believe and my experiences are mine alone.
As far as Ireland goes, you misunderstand me, probably deliberately.
I am making passing no opinion on Irish history; I am reporting what I believe happened and why, also based on a lifetime's interest.
The brutish behaviour of the British establishent transformed general Irish opinions from bemused hostility to admiration, to rebellion and finally to a passion that brought about a civil war - nice work, if you can get it.
Your attitude here confirms something the late lamented Frank Harte once said in his opening remarks to a lecture he gave on Irish political songs at the National Folk Festival at Sutton Bonnington.
He said "Most English people don't understand the Irish (pregnant pause) but most of us Irish understand the English".
I can still see the visible shiver that went down the spines of the assembled company of a roomful of somewhat genteel EFDSSers.
Jim Carroll