Waterford Treasures: Medieval Museum (Treasures of Medieval Waterford)

I came away from my visit feeling very upset. The museum presents a very sanitised version of the history of Waterford (subsequently Ireland). It presents the conflict of the Medieval period as a religious war between Catholics and Protestants and no where did it once mention the colonisation of Ireland and of Irish people. It is like it's presenting the 'official' British version of events, as some tribal conflict which leaves the British and English state off the hook. It does talk about Cromwell but no details of the horrific abuses he inflicted on Irish people. The mention the pogroms against Protestants (settlers) in the north but not one mention of the Penal Laws or the horrendous persecution Irish people lived under in their own homeland. I know the museum focus is on the Medieval period but you would be forgiven for mistakenly thinking that Ireland didn't exist pre the Anglo-Normans arriving. No mention of the fact that Ireland was a complex, organised society already. At one point one of the video displays even used the term 'British Isles' to include Ireland. This is a gross, offensive, colonial term that has no place in the 21st century let alone inside an Irish museum! The Irish government does not recognise the term and even the British government does not officially use it to include Ireland. There seems to be some desire to appear neutral when talking about the history but in doing so it actually does an injustice to Ireland and Irish people. An upsetting experience and one not for locals but for British tourists or for people who don't feel any attachment to the history of this place.