Oliver Cromwell is the great bogeyman of Irish history. His name appears everywhere in the collective psyche of an island that is... More >
Oliver Cromwell is the great bogeyman of Irish history. His name appears everywhere in the collective psyche of an island that is obsessed with its past. He is a towering figure, a dark silhouette against the bloodstained backdrop of history. But why did he come to Ireland, and does he deserve this black reputation?

In the first part of this two part series, the historical context of 17th century Ireland is set and the main players in the conflict are introduced, including Cromwell himself and his Irish adversaries, the O’Neills. We trace the events that led to the