Thank you OC Richard; how very interesting. I had never even heard the term "Scotch-Irish" but I gather from the internet (which is never wrong) that this is not unusual this side of the pond.

I do really find the whole concept, that the two could be confused, astonishing. I suppose that those in the United Kingdom and Ireland are much closer to and aware of the various traits and differences. I am sure that I am guilty of unconsciously lumping together people from other parts of the world into convenient groups without realising that they have their own distinct identities... we call them "foreigners"! (joke!).