As an Irish born man living in England, I well understand your piece. It is very important for Irish people who emigrate or were banished from their land, often never to see it again, to keep Irish traditions alive and to spread that through the generations, so that even those born much later in foreign lands always stay in their hearts truly Irish. Through poverty, famine and slavery Ireland has been a very transient society, and through economic failure it's happening all over again today, as Leon Uris wrote in 'trinity' 'In Ireland there is no future, but the past happening over and over again. So Being 'Irish' through the centuries has become as much a state of mind as birth and location.

I go back home to Kilkenny regularly, a place where many Americans come to visit, and the one thing they often say is how at home they feel, and of course they are home.

Must day thanks to all at our Circle Folk Club last night our St Patrick's Party, Standing room only and a great new band, The Publiners, rip roaring music in the style of the Dubliners, look out for them. And a most happy St Patrick's day to all Mudcatters

Desi C