In our days the Baltics have discovered Ireland. Many Estonians, Latvinas and Lithuanians have emigrated to Ireland. Earlier many Irishmen emigrated to the U.S.A., Canada, Australia etc, but now Balts, Poles and other East European immigrants come to Ireland. A new chapter has begun in the history of Ireland.
Estonia, Latvia and Ireland have a similar history, while Lithuania was in the medieval times a great power. In 1,000 years of known history Estonia, Latvia and Ireland have been occupied by foreign oppressors. The difference is that Ireland has only had one occupant through the centuries, namely England, while Estonia and Latvia have had many occupants and oppressors throughout the centuries. From the east the Russians and Poles and from the west the Swedes, Danes and Germans. Through the passed centuries the Baltic peoples have seen marching armies and battles between Russians and Western Powers.
As the English author Kipling said: "East is East and West is West and they never meet." After the first World War, 1914-1918 when both England and Russia were weakened Ireland could break free from England and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania could break free from Russia. In 1940 the Baltic states were reoccupied by Russia until 1991, but the English did not reoccupy Ireland.
I hope that Russia will never reoccupy Balticum, I hope that both the Balts and the Irishmen will be free for all the future. The Balts had "The Forest Brothers" and the Irish had "Sinn Fein."
Erik Larsson
Toreboda, Sweden
