The Irish election

[Workingman]

Serving in the RAF at the height of the troubles I always understood that the only way to get any sort of peace was to have some kind of dialogue with the IRA / Sinn Fein. Yes, it was going to be problematic and, yes, ever so many would be against, especially the victims and their friends and relatives, but once it did come about it eventually led to the GFA.

With the GFA in place, and with all the optimism that it brought, I then suspected that Sinn Fein would slowly but surely, and also inevitably, be drawn into the body politic proper. That time looks to have arrived and although I am apprehensive I cautiously welcome it. Times have changed and if the younger generations have decided that this is the way forward then so be it. It is their turn to roll the dice and there is not a lot those of us who do remember the troubles can do about it - we have to hope.