Alison,

I came across this link while doing internet searches for bluegrass and old time country music in Scotland and Ireland:

http://www.lowcountryboys.com/

This NI website, obviously posted by Protestants, doesn't have the politics or venom of Mr Frazer's site. I think they might well be right that our "hillbilly" music has a heritage from the Ulster Scots or Scotch Irish, whichever you like better.

In one section in their site they say that they found it funny to be confused with Free Presbyterians. (That's Dr Paisley's church, you know.)   I have good friends in my country who are Presbyterians, and I've met Orthodox Presbyterians ( a smaller American offshoot ), and I love them and disagree on some things with them and agree with other points, but Dr Paisley really goes off the deep end. Google him and read his websites to see what I mean. With him and drug running paramilitary gangs calling a lot of the shots, the protestant/unionist-loyalist/ulster scots (call them what you will) have their share of problems.

I may be naive but perhaps the promotion of the shared folk music heritage between the sides could be a way to start bridging the gap. It would be a lot more constructive than arguing who was worse during the time of "troubles".

Joe