Intelligencer

He says that he was pleasantly surprised that Northern Ireland has been largely resolved. He admitted he "didn't think they would" resolve it.

He spoke of a trip to Belfast about 15 years ago when he said there was about "90% unemployment" in the city, a figure way off the mark even for the worst time in the North. He said it was now about 90% full employment, which is closer to the mark.

McCain's point was that political and economic factors combined to create the opportunity for peace which is fair enough, but to suggest that the British Army presence helped create the conditions for that peace is far off the mark.

McCain's Irish Roots

McCAIN is a huge admirer of the writings of Roddy Doyle, the chronicler of working class Dublin, and also of short story writer William Trevor.

His Irish ancestry traces to Antrim in Northern Ireland, where his mother's ancestor Hugh Young left to settle in Augusta County, Virginia.

His father's family was Highland Scots of the Clan MacDonald. Hugh McCain settled in North Carolina.

In an interview with our sister publication Irish America magazine McCain stated that Ireland would be his model for how successful economies come about.

"Ireland has been an incredible success. It is a great argument for a strong educational system, for low taxes, for forward thinking," he said.

Of course McCain played a major role in the immigration reform battle last year and attended three rallies hosted by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, including an overflow event in the Bronx at St. Barnabas Church. He certainly endeared himself to the Irish at those meetings.

Obama's Irish Ode

IT had to happen. An Irish group calling itself "Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys" have released a single entitled "There's No One as Irish as Barack O'Bama."

The Irish-based band certainly has a way with lyrics, if you could call them that. Here's a sample:

O' Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara

There's no one as Irish as Barak (sic) O'Bama.

You don't believe me. I hear you say Barak's (sic) as Irish As was JFK His granddaddy's daddy Came from Donegal (sic) A small Irish village Well known to you all Toor a loo, tor a loo, tor a loo, toor a lama.

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