I thought it might be a good idea to bring this one up again. For one thing there is a current thread running here on the subject of Ireland, which sadly gives me a real feeling of déjà vu. It is interesting to see all the negative emotions that continue to be raised by this subject here, despite the hope and the really positive moves now taking place in Ireland.Surely if the political representatives of such extreme views can sit down and talk and even attempt to form a government together, after all of the mistrust and bloodshed of the past, it is not too much for us to a least be able to conduct ourselves here with a litle mutual respect?

The above situation is one of the reasons I decided to try again here, as it was only a few short months ago that events arising from these issues made me and others feel that they did not want to continue to contribute to the Mudcat. To me, pretty much the worst thing you can do here is anything that may inhibit anyone else from contributing to the forum. The relatively few contributors to that thread do not reflect a lack of interest in the subject, more I would suggest that people do not feel safe enough to comment or ask questions.

It is also of some interest to me to see the effect that those few months have had on what was then topical song. The arrival of Peter Mandelson has put a whole new slant on the Bumbling Englishman (for his financial affairs were certainly a little bumbled). In also makes more sense of the last verse, where he changes his affections to Michael Flattely. I have no idea however, if he has ambitions to play the fiddle or if he can dance... We must be told.

To leave on a topical note. I see that the millennium bug has found it's way in to Gerry Adams car.