Why *should* it, as distinguished from 'why *would* it', escape? Because, Guest, we *should* all declare that tradition (like some others) to be time-DIShonoured, henceforth. OK, so we got some chuckles from the recent decapitation of marble-wrought Maggie Thatcher in London. So, let that one be the last.

And speaking of London, Michael's "shenanigans" were undertaken at Dev's behest, and himself likely knowing he could do no better & so distancing himself. And the days of the Statelet are numbered now anyway. 32-County Republic by 2016: Martin McGuinness. Let all the patriots of all the factions rest, and their statues stand, in peace.

Fiolar, Thanks!! for excellent detailed report. So glad you were there---for your own sake, plus I feel like the Mudcat was, very appropriately, represented. / 5 hours for the Rose of Tralee, oy. Reminiscence: naively thinking to drive through, I once got stuck in the midnight aftermath of that fine festival. The pale moon was rising above the green mountains, and hundreds---t'ousands?---of lovely lurching lasses & Stout-hearted lads were all dressed up & bobbing & weaving in raucous pedestrian gridlock. Was that the Truth I saw, in their eyes ever dawning? Thought I was Back in Nyew Yawk City. :)