I have been to Ireland once, like 10 years ago, and yes, the fresh air along the coast and the GREEN landscapes inland are striking. Like I said before, I am actually more Irish than Willie D, which really only means that if I hadnt been born crippled, I never would have done the things I have with my life, instead I would now be a drunk ex-minor league ballplayer with 4 DUIs, some kids and 2 ex wives. None of what I am NOW comes naturally...

Note to Bornyo: Cork County Ireland is where my paternal Grandma was born, and it turns out she was born about 500 meters from where General Patrick Cleburne, C.S.A was born...he came to America around 1840(?) and settled in Arkansas, where he took up both Law and Pharmacy (good combo)...when Arkansas bolted from the Union, Cleburne enlisted and rapidly was promoted due to his experience of having served in the British Army prior to coming to America. By April 1862, just before the battle of Shiloh (or "Corinth" to you Rebels) he was made Brigadier, and he continued to rise in rank up to Major General by January 1864, due to his tactical and strategic brilliance on the battlefield, and his admirattion and popularity amongst the men of the Army of Tennessee off the field; But then, in January 1864 he wrote a letter to Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Congress, advocating the freeing of the slaves in return to for the slaves serving a 2 year enlistment as soldiers in the Confederate Army. Like most Irish serving in both the North and South, he didnt give a shit about the issue of Slavery, he was mostly interested in the issue of individual rights (and, being Irish, in fighting.)

The Controversial letter resulted in CLeburne being "Frozen" in rank, never again being offered promotion, so that he stayed at Major General in command of his Division within the Army Of Tennezsses....this was HUGE, because in July of 1864, as Sherman was pushing to Atlanta, the command of the Army of the Tennessee was given to John Bell Hood, a general who was crippled (missing a Leg and most of an Arm) and stupid and a drug addict (he took Laudanum to ease the pain but it dulled his already dull wits something terrible...) The result was the LOSS of Atlanta, and the destruction of the Army of Tennesse in December of 1864 at the battle(s) of Franklin and Nashville. Cleburne died at Franklin, but it is the consensus of Historians and analysts that IF cleburne had been given coomand of the army in July 1864, Atlanta probably still would have been lost BUT Sherman would not have been able to perpetrate the depradations and slaughter he did on his famed "MArch to the Sea" after Atlanta's fall...Cleburne would have executed a bunch of different feints and hit and run attacks, culiminating in his uniting the Army of Tennessee with Robert E. lee and the Army of Northern Virginia by January 1865. If the overwhelming Union victories of Atlanta in September and Shermans March to the sea shortly afterward had been delayed or even denied....and IF those two Confederate armies had been united before January 1865, with the combat power of the Army of Tennessee still intact instead of squandered and dead on the fields of Franklin, it is just possible that (A) the re-election of Lincoln in November 1864 would not have happened and (B) the united consolidated confederate forces under Lee, with Cleburne as his "new" Stonewall Jackson, would POSSIBLY have given new life and hope for Draw/Stalemate to the war and, thus, preserved the Confederacy.

A lot of "What Ifs" to be sure, but it just shows to go ya what can happen with the imagination and thought processes thanks to Floofins visit to Cork County Ireland....Floof, for next year, lets plan a trip together, I need some people to go with me to keep me straight and prevent me from causing any international incidents...in return I will pay for most everything and provide "Whores Douevres"...unless your wife objects....