Good points, Chris. In the areas of London I remember, much of the "Irish community" has now grown up and moved on, becoming integrated and diverse. Old identities have to share space with all the newer influences, so they don't have so strong a hold. I suppose that generation is going to be less interested in having its own newspaper because there's less of a unified "voice" for it to reflect.

I noticed that when I went back to visit the area in London where I had lived (between Kilburn & Cricklewood, nicely equidistant from the National* and Galtymore ballrooms), after not setting foot in it for 20 years, there were not a lot of Irish left, and those that remained were mainly the older population. It has another ethnic stamp now, and many of the old Irish landmark hangouts in that area are gone, even if the buildings themselves still stand.

R.I.P. The Irish Post - another part of the past has died.



*The National is now an evangelical church (with guys in suits who stand outside beside the door and "greet" people as they pass by) and Biddy Mulligan's pub - one of the best Sunday morning sessions in London, for my money - has been converted into flats by some offshore development company.