Jim, a fireman may not understand the difference between heavy and field artillery.
There was nothing bigger than an 18 pounder in Dublin, and that is a field gun.

Steve, having given the full quote, I later conflated the two different disparaging words he used to dismiss each author into one.
No deceit. No change of meaning.
He rubbished both, and supported the findings of present day historians which was my case.

Rag, so I was right and the idiocy was yours.
An apology is in order.

The story teller said that the one pounder fired at the flag atop Bolands Mill tower from 400 yards.
Those shells would go far beyond the Liffey.

The story teller also says,
"the one pounder's return shot coming so close to hitting the Helga that the resultant explosion soaked their crew!"

There is less explosive in such a shell than a handgrenade.
The spray would not reach the deck, never mind soak the crew.
The whole yarn is fantasy.