Fresh start for English/Irish Relations?

A bigger deal for the people directly involved, certainly, but it's always interesting to hear another perspective. I hunch most 'regional disagreements', speaking euphemistically, sound pretty strange to foreigners. Like the whole Republican versus Democrat thing in the US.

Grumpy, I was only teasing you about the Scottish passport.

 

Grumpie, what are the implications of a "fresh start" for Irish/English relations; i.e. what will be opportunities/improvements for the common citizen?

 

Of course, the queen's visit is what prompted this post, but who would have known that Barrack Obama O'Riley would be coming for a a Guiness and a family visit (LOL) and maybe a state affair. What is it with the American -Irish love affair?

 

History!!

 

It is my understanding that the Good Friday agreement did not change anything substantial in terms of unifying Ireland - it still would require a majority vote in the North which in practical terms will never happen. But it did do a bunch of good including helping to draw a number of previously disenfranchised people back into the mainstream. However I think that the relative prosperity that had already started in the area had as much to do with the warming of relations as any other thing. There was so much brutal poverty and it was divided by religion.

 

After chatting up the rellies on the weekend, and hearing more details of the latest election results, a Scottish passport may not be so far off after all. That'll be celebrated with more than a wee dram.

 

plus music and, most importantly, whiskey!