nothern ireland government actually forms

wow, some good news to report...i was not quite sure this day would ever come when i would read the headline old foes join forces at last to share power at Stormont. this would seem to symbolically end "the troubles" in northern ireland that have so violently rocked that area for decades since the dissolution of the northern ireland government and creation of direct british rule. it is ironic to note that on a day when former blood enemies ian paisley and sinn fein's gerry adams sat down and peacefully (and in some cases while smiling and laughing) formed a government, that:

The only conflict of the day came at the gates of Stormont when police clashed with anti-Iraq war protesters objecting to Tony Blair's presence.

if all they are fighting over in northern ireland anymore is iraq, then this seems like a good omen for the future.