Oh good, we are going to get a united Ireland. Yes, we are heading for what Aontú's Peadar Tóibín last week called “that sunny day”.

Mary Lou McDonald said it would mean “freedom” (within the EU, from which 70 per cent of all Irish laws now come – an odd concept of freedom) and Leo Varadkar declared that Irish unity was indeed a good thing.

Michelle O’Neill promised to re-build Casement Park (will it come before or after a united Ireland?) and the general atmosphere confirmed that Kathleen Ni Houlihan is alive and well and living in Belfast’s SSE Arena.

A rather harsh interpretation of the united Ireland campaign, you say. Possibly, but the sceptical view of mass rallies for constitutional change arises because they are rather like a religious belief: never mind your troubles in this life, all will be well in the heaven of a united Ireland.

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As the man sings about the valley where his true love lives, Níl gaoth aduaidh ann, níl sneachta cruaidh ann (There is no north wind there, no hard snow there).

Meanwhile, just up the road from this latest rally, 32 per cent of west Belfast children live in poverty. The........

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