Gaelic Green and Gaelic Grey
75
modem times, an Irish Republic Army and its political arm Sinn Fein were
clandestinely and openly supported by funds from the south and from other
places as well, including America. Funds were also secured through bank
robberies and kidnappings in the south, as well as demands for protection
money. Over the decades, 3,000 persons, most in the North, died in
assassinations and bombings.
But perhaps we have entered a new era. The milieu of violence has waned
with prosperity and with the influx of new ethic groups. As mentioned above,
NOW people have something to lose besides their ethnic dignity (and their
lives)—they NOW have money to lose. Moreover, the force of religion on
people’s lives has abated, making ethic battles less relevant. Peace accords
negotiated on Easter Sunday 1998 have taken hold, and while all know that the
“Troubles” are long term, there is some real hope that a tranquil, enduring
prosperity can be attained. Perhaps a signal has been given out that casino
gambling can exist without fear of surrounding violence in both the north and
south of Ireland.28
No Need to Defend Borders from Neighboring Casinos
High among the list of reasons promoters use to win the legalization of
casino gambling in new venues is that neighboring venues have casinos and are
taking “our” money away. The story has been told throughout Europe. Italy
authorized casinos so that money would not go across