Scots-Irish

[macwilkin]

Let's not forget that there are true Irish in Ulster, as well. Farrells and McNeills could well have been on that land well before my ancestors got booted out of Scotland and were given Irish land.

Very true Bob. We have forgotten to mention the Galloglass, the Highland mercenaries from the Western Isles that fought for the "native" Irish in Ulster, as well as some Borderer horsemen that were brought over.

And, I should point out that not all of the Scots-Irish were actually Scots. A number of different groups fall under that banner -- English, Welsh, Danes, Dutch, German Palantines and French Huguenots -- Many were brought to Ireland by the English crown in efforts to pacify the Irish, and/or escaping religious persecution (the Hugneots, for example) in France or the German states. The most famous example is Davy Crockett -- Crockett is originally a Huguenot name.

The Danes and the Dutch were brought as soldiers in William's army and fought at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, and some of the English and Welsh were Parlimentary soldiers in the English Civil War given land grants.

Why are the lumped under the banner of the Scots -- religion, specifically Protestantism.

Not to mention all of the Anglo-Normans (Fitzgeralds, Fitzwiliams, Fitzmaurice, etc.) that assimilated with the Irish! - but that's another story!

Cheers,

Todd