I try to be realistic about Irish history. Because of Ireland's geographical/stratigic location west of Britain it was inevitable that they would need to hold Ireland, purely as a defensive measure against whichever European country they happened to be fighting with. I have no illusions either about the French, the Spanish, the Dutch, The Portugese, the Germans, or any others. If they had succeeded in "rescuing" Ireland from British rule we would have become a colony of that country. With the existence of the European Community that situation no longer exists and I have no doubt that the English, Welsh and Scottish people would be glad to acknowledge the logical fact that Ireland ,as an island, should exist as a seperate entity. I sincerely believe that the vast majority of Irish people no longer bear the old resentmet of Britain. Unfortunately there is a small minority on both sides who wish to dwell on past glories and avenge past wrongs and it is very difficult to convince them to come into the 21st. century. The title of this thread, PICTURES of ULSTER, suggested to me that I might see some pleasent scenery, instead I saw these pictures of triumphalism and bigotry. I have no doubt that if I searched the web I would find equally unpleasent photographs posted by the Republican bigots. I would simply repeat my previous assertion that the Mudcat forum is not the place for extremist views.