Irish Republicans were traditionally portrayed in the media as the more romantic in the Northern irish troubles, even with prisoners covered in blankets on a dirty protest, whereas the Loyalists always came across as bullies! It would be even harder given the level of the oppression they caused to make the Afrikaner the more romantic in the struggle over Apartheid! Maybe it's usually the case that the obviously oppressed gain sympathy which leads to an 'ah, the poor lads!' sort of feeling!