Alan, how much time have you actually spent in Ireland? More to the point, how recently and for how long? You just seem out of touch. Things aren't the same here anymore. It's not just a case of a few Mudcat people being 'nice'.

Yes of COURSE there is still resentment in some quarters, that's too obvious to even need stating. But a lot of times it's the outsiders who are seeking to cling to all the past anger. People here have new angers. And most of us are moving on. Yes, plenty are still anti-British and wouldn't welcome the Queen. But they tend to be the older population, which is dying out. And mostly they just talk and grumble. They know same as the rest of us that there's nothing realistic they can do, because the time for doing it is past and gone. The overall public reaction to her visit tells the story, even if you don't seem to want to recognise it. The proof lies in the fact that the "positive incitement" you spoke of didn't incite much. And please remember, it was our president's idea to invited her. What signal do you think refusing would have sent?

The whole Celtic Tiger thing changed Ireland forever, and that includes influencing people's political thinking. Now we have been betrayed by someone much closer to home and the old resentments and losses have been outweighed by new ones. (Note, I didn't say 'replaced by'.) But you can only handle so much emotional energy. It's a no-brainer as to which is going to come first, dealing with current and unfinished issues which are affecting us and our children's lives now, or old ones which are over & done with, that we can do nothing about.

What is this going to represent to Irish republicans? That most of the citizens of this country, even those of us who would like to see a 32-county Ireland, want to move forward in the most positive and realistic - and humane - way.