I have never been to Ireland, but I have met many Irish people.

With all their hardships endured during the Centuries, they have stayed kind and friendly.

They told me about their love for their country, their melancholical songs and their happy jigs, the little people and "kissing the Blarney Stone."  This is a real stone somewhere in the countryside in a wooded area.  After a visit to Ireland you go there and you have to bend backwards, kissing the stone in an upside-down position.  Then you will know that you will come back to Ireland again.

Thousands of helpless people, whom misfortune had befallen were forced to sail to America and Canada under terrible circumstances, so bad that many died on their journey to their destination.  There the men worked very hard, mainly clearing jungle, fend off Indians and building rail roads.

Even in the last few years they restored all the former East-German towns to their former glory.

In Northern Ireland are two religious sections having lived in feud with each other for a very long time.  Gradually, over the last few years, persons have stood up and very slowly conditions between the people has become better.

The political leaders doing their best, each in his own way, to get the different parties and sections working together as one.

The IRA has now started to render their weapons, ending the war in Ireland.

This is wonderful news.  People don't have to live in fear anymore.

Let us all wish them the best and prosperity for the future.

 

(Co) Gisela Cooper.