Over the next few hours the British head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, will set foot in the country of Ireland, the first time a British monarch has visited the republic since its formation. The modern relationship between Ireland and its nearest neighbour is based mainly in trade (in goods, expertise, culture and many other things), unlike the relationship of past decades and centuries where the relationship was fraught with tension. A few remain who wish to remind the world of that tension, and possibly even prolong it, but the world has changed. Technology, including the Internet and its most recent innovation: the social network, has created a global melting pot and we now have instantaneous access to almost everyone; [click title to read more…]