The point, I think, was: The BNP is a fine bunch of chaps. They were like the American Irish in the 1970's.

             I don't know where one goes with that. Angela's Ashes hadn't been published yet, and one would have to assume that at least some of the American Irish must have been bankrolling the IRA. If that was the case, it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense that the BNP would support it (them).
             One could make the case, I suppose, that it is representative of a gallant struggle, but the American Irish were only fighting the war by proxy.
             Maybe the American Irish were trying to save Ireland for the Irish, but, of course, they weren't there, so I don't get it either.