It's been my experience that people who claim to object to political songs really mean that they object to songs that run counter to 'their' politics.
The British and Irish repertoires are full of political songs - as somebody said, 'you'll always find somebody who will take offence', and if you pander to that attitude you'll end up with a very anodyne repertoire.
Irish history is fully recorded in its songs; some of the most fascinating have been those made locally which, for one reason or another, haven't caught the attention of the general population - there are numerous ones in this area dating back to the Black and Tan atrocities.
"There are still people with many real memories of the Birmingham pub bombings in 1974"
There are indeed - just as there are those who remember the fact that innocent people were fitted up for the crime, and others, and served 17 years because of it - so where do you go from there?
I would strongly second the suggestion of getting hold of Zimmermann's book; it was re-issued in paperback not so long ago - try 'The Book Depository' website. usually very reasonable and postage free.
Jim Carroll