Alison, I will try to answer your questions the best I can. There are many loyalist/republican websites out there offering a history and understanding of their tradition. I feel everyone is entitled to celebrate their tradition and such websites should do so in an informed manner without insult.

As a republican I was once asked on this site my opinion on Ian Paisley of the DUP. I repeat, I may not share his views, but I respect him. He is the leader of the largest unionist party over here and the leader of a church with enormous following, you cannot dismiss the fact that the man has charisma to those that follow him. Republicans may not like me saying that, but is this not true ?


There was a lot of suffering for both Communities, neither of us hold an monopoly on this. A mother does not bring up a son to kill or be killed, yet many mothers became victims of the troubles. I lost many friends and family during these years and my pain was exactly the same as for someone in the loyalist community.

You say that "loyalists are so anti the other side of the fence", you will always find extremists in both communities. I have many friends in the loyalist community who wish to remain British. They know and accept that I as a republican and want a united Ireland. No one has the right to say which one of us is wrong. If we can accept eachothers views, that is enough for me.


Having lived through the troubles and saw more than I care to recall here, the one thing we all have to do is ensure that it does not happen again. There is a new generation growing up in Ireland that deserves a better future and whatever their political views will be, none of us have the right to brainwash them, inform them of their history yes, but not to tell them who was right and who was wrong.


We could export hate from here we have that much of it. As I stated before, I regret any loss of live and my advice to you is, if you come across any site promoting hate, get off it.

Let's give the talking around a table a go.

Divis