Tim, I agree that the descendants of the "unwelcome strangers" are now just as Irish as any other. You need only look to the success of Meanscoi/l Feirste (Belfast Irish School) in Belfast to see the evidence of this. It is a secondary school which teaches in Irish as its primary medium. English is only used when it is being taught as a second language. The school has Catholics and Protestants alike, who are united in their irishness and love of the language. Historically, the "Old English" whom today we know by the "Fitz" in their names, were originally Norman settlers who became some of the most Irish of our people. The problem has no simple solution. To illustrate, I will use the example of a friend of mine. I am purposely leaving out names as I have not asked his permission, but his story is compelling. He is a founding member of one of the greatest Irish bands ever. They recorded the original version of the largest selling song in the history of Irish radio. They wrote songs about the troubles, about the ancient wrongs committed against their people, and recorded many songs about the bold IRA. To say that they were a voice in support of the armed struggles would be to put it mildly. A couple of years ago, a young RUC policeman was assassinated. This was shortly after the peace negotiations had begun. No one could figure out why he was killed. He had a Catholic wife and was raising his children Catholic. When I saw the pictures of the grieving widow, my friend was at her side. It turned out that it was his sister and the young RUC man was his brother-in-law. Can you imagine the thoughts that he must have now? The doubts as to whether some of his music may have contributed to this? I wonder what questions his nieces will have for him someday.

What's the point the story,you might ask. Well, mostly to point out that nothing is ever as clean and easy as we Americans like to think. There was a movie recently with Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt. Without commenting on the merits of the movie, there was a line in it that really struck home for me. It was when the Pitt character said, "It's not an American story, It's Irish". The guys in the white hats are not going to ride in and save Ireland. Irish people have to step to the plate and find ways to deal with 600 years of very complex problems. And they need to be supported in their efforts by the Irish in other lands. If the wish of the people had been to continue the armed struggle, then I would be supportive of that too. But they have chosen, in a convincing fashion, the way of negotiation.

Enough of my rambling,

All the best,

Mick