Interesting that Adams press conference was held in the aptly named "Balmoral Hotel" owned by none other than P O Neill !

Elections local government and European occur this month, they always brought a certain tension over there between the D.U.P. and Ulster Unionists, these days it is between the T.U.V. and the D.U.P.

The S.D.L.P. and Sinn Fein used to cut hell out of eachother. It was a battle of Republicanism verse Nationalism. Republicanism is the product of the 18th century, modernity and Enlightenment whereas the nation is an invention of the 19th century. It is the democratic element which distinguishes Republicanism from Nationalism. Republicanism is based on the "people" (demos), nationalism on the "nation" (ethnos). Republicanism is based on "citizenship" whereas nationalism on "nationality". If dissent is central to democracy it logically has to be central to republicanism. However the same cannot be automatically said of nationalism. If nationalism is not necessary democratic, dissent will not be necessarily part of it.

Today a fag paper could not separate the so called political and ideological differences between Sinn Fein and the SDLP. The T.U.V. are growing in strength as a more militant unionist voice. The D.U.P. are becoming the Ulster Unionist Party.

The GFA/BA is a Berlin style wall around any future attempts at a united Ireland, the people spoke, 71% wanted it so we have to accept that.

The Labour Party cuddled up to every party and wet nursed them during their term in office, this current coalition government doesn't give a toss.