I have always been fond of the Ballad of Joe McDonald, though I have always sung it, as I learned it, not "for right or wrong", but "for the workers I would fight..." and not may your glory etc. in the Boby Sands verce, but "may your writings and your deeds be widely known..." I probubaly have some sticky version or another...
Dave, to be most accurate, I agree that the process of truth and reconcillation begins - not with "You did... and I want you to say you are sorry before I speak to you." but with "I did... for this reason and know I ask you forgive me so we can build together" - So it is a looking back, but a looking back to create understanding, not to rub the other's nose in the past.
Actually, Jimmy, I was surprised to find a real change of feeling in England a few months ago. In the south east, where there was real anti Irish feeling ten years back, they are now rediscovering their Celtic roots, and playing bands like "After Hours".
I think the majority problem in England, like in the US, was apathy, looking the other way as their government did terrible things, though there is a deep set undercurrent of anti catholism that persisits in a large number of English people, a reverberation of their own civil war - but I would say that in my experience that is a minority feeling, though a large minority.
all the best
Larry