Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Since that time there has been an effect on the psyche of people from the north of the county who, as the Minister will know from his many visits, as will other Senators, including Senator McHugh, who is closest to me geographically. The people refer to themselves as coming from north Leitrim but there is no north Leitrim entity. It is something that goes back to the mists of time. People from the south of the county, however, do not refer to themselves as coming from south Leitrim. I can make that point because I am in the middle, so to speak, in Drumshanbo. We can look down on both of them. We are the true Leitrim people.

I must say to the Minister, through the Chair, that it is the GAA which is to blame for all of this; I hope he understands that. This is nothing to do with constitutional commissions. This is to do with the GAA, which nurtured, engendered and cultivated the concept of county identity, which has got everybody riled across the country.