I learnt guitar from the Russ Shipton series of guitar tutor books. They're very folk-centric, although more "folk" as in 1960s stuff than "folk" as in traditional. Still, the same techiques will work as well for one as for the other.

A devolved assembly is not the same thing as a broken connection with England and reunification and sovereignty for Ireland. I wouldn't know anything about Irish "terrorism".

If you don't know, I suggest learning. Certainly remember what the English did before the foundation of the Irish state. But then also remember what the Irish did to each other during the civil war. And then remember that the only reason the British army went into NI in the 1960s was to protect Catholics from Protestants in the mass riots of the day. And then remember the British army turning on the Catholics, and Bloody Sunday. And then remember the IRA bombing campaigns that murdered all those innocent people, including attacks on purely civilian places like pubs and shopping centres. And remember Jean McConville. And remember the British army collusion that allowed the attempted assassination of the McAliskeys. And remember Arndale. And remember Gibraltar. And remember Omagh.

By all means, remember the past. But remember *all* of it. Otherwise you're keeping the spirit of repression and arbitrary violence alive, not the spirit of freedom...

Graham.