The national allegiance and political difference has throughout history been the root of the conflict, not the religion.

When you read of the 1798 Rising in Ireland, that attempt to throw off British rule was not begun nor carried out solely by Catholics, but Protestants as well. Indeed, the man considered to be "the father of Irish Republicanism"... Wolfe Tone... was himself a Protestant.

From the passage inlcluded, it seems that McMillan's troops felt it was "a pity" that they had to kill other Irishmen.

The conclusion is that during that time in history, there would not have been the great hostility between the two groups that is common today. The fact is that Meagher's men considered themselves to be Irish as did McMillan's, and thus there would have been no additional hostility from one toward the other regarding their religion, but rather on their allegiance to the Union or the Confederacy.

David Ward

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