ollaimh,
we used to get plenty of those 'brave hero' types in the Pubs of West Berlin, back in the 80s, wanting to spout their rebel songs at the crowd. Then, of course, they'd go home to their nice comfy wee flat, far, far away from any troubles & perfectly safe from any of the murderous activities they were trying to promote ......... in song.
I often wondered, just how many of them would have been quite so brave, had they been in a pub .... in East Belfast!

Also, I'd be curious to know how many Rebel songs were sung in New York Pubs, after 9:11?

It's all very well stirring it up in your safe we suburbias, far, far away, but you try living with that stuff going on next door & down the road & then see just how keen you really are to hear some drunken bafoon spew out The Soldier's Song, The Sash or some old IRA Rebel Song!

Jim,
As I'm sure you have guessed by now, I've absolutely no political axe to grind either, quite the contrary!
However, I've never found that The Soldier's Song, The Sash or any of those old IRA Rebel Song had any, even remote, form of unifying effect on any musical environment I was ever in.
Quite the contrary, they always just made people feel uncomfortable!

If people want to promote their politics, I'd be much happier if they went off to a rally &/or found themselves a Soapbox .............. & left 'The Music' alone!
Cheers
Dick