Just an observation but

In his post of 13 May 18 - 03:56 AM, Jim Carroll makes the specific request - Is there any chance we can keep this on the songs rather than turn it into a political battle ?

Which he then immediately follows with a subjective post addressing politics. Strange.

Can't really see how a song about someone farting in church would be considered important, but I suppose it takes all sorts.

Regarding newspapers in Ireland in the 19th century. On the evidence of census information, the rural population of Ireland from 1851 to 1911 was well educated. The percentage of the population over five years of age which claimed to be able to read rose from 53% to 88%. The number of newspapers and periodicals published and distributed in Ireland rose from 109 in 1853 to 230 in 1913. The papers became synonymous with political literature in nationalist Ireland. The Dublin based newspapers, especially The Nation became the leading voices of nationalist opinions, the same could be said of The Connaught Telegraph and The Kerry Sentinel.