Bored in Boston

In light of today's announcement by the IRA that after 30 years of violence they are finally ending their armed struggle, many observers are asking what that means for the future of loyalist paramilitary groups. Me, I think the burning question is what wealthy Irish-American businessmen are going to spend their money on now.

I would suggest as a start that they could spend their spare cash on visiting the locations of this 'glorious struggle', for example West Belfast and Londonderry. Maybe they could promote local investment to help combat the crippling poverty that pervades these areas? But I don't suppose that's as much fun as helping to finance the murder of 1,800 Irish civilians and British soldiers.

Alternatively, they could always filter some money to those 'freedom fighters' in Al-Quaeda, just for kicks.