Regarding the 1690 question: In 1688 William of Orange went to England to win the throne from his father-in-law, James II. James fled to Ireland, where he based a counter-attack in 1689 to win back the throne of England. Forces of William of Orange landed in Ireland, where in 1690 the two sides met at the Battle of the Boyne. James was defeated. Catholics vs. Protestants, you know, and that battle resonates in Irish history since. Anita