Recently after a discussion on the Scotch-Irish list I decided that I would start a cultural list. Over the past few years the Scotch-Irish list has developed in genealogical terms and in no longer the place where there use to be cosy discussions about the more esoteric features of Scotch-Irish Culture and History. I have also discovered the Irish Scots list which while it is not directly connected to the Scotch-Irish saga, does point the Ulster Scots to that part of the common experience of Irishness which is shared by people from all parts of Ireland, that of being a paddy in Britain. I however believe that it is important to affirm the experience of the Scotch Irish tribe before they left for America, acknowledging that there is still a substantial remnant in Ireland, which while it may or may not have a strong political basis depending who you are talking to. Unfortunately when I applied to Rootsweb for a new list I was told that the Unionist-Culture list was on the go, and that dealt with the interests which I listed in my application for Scots-Irish_Culture. However when I had asked about a list the Rootsweb administrators had tried to contact the Unionist Culture list, and discovered that it did not have a list owner. The list was therefore put up for adoption. I adopted it, and not withstanding the name, and reflecting the very low volume of posting that there has been we are going to go in a new direction. I invite all who are interested in the journey of the Scots Irish and the Irish Scots to come here for discussion about the roots which we have and our heritage. Personally I was born in Downpatrick, educated in Larne, Belfast, /Derry, Dublin, Manchester and Edinburgh (I was a slow learner) and have lived in Ulster, Cumbria, Highland, Lothian, and Argyll. My academic interests are History, especially Ecclesiastical History, and Sociology. Not withstanding the name of the list I do not expect that we will be getting involved in the nitty gritty of politics in either part of Ireland. Sectarianism of any kind will be severely stamped on. One warning and you are out. I have been waiting for a few weeks from taking over the list to give the present members a chance to post - which generally they haven't taken, and because I was over in Ireland for a week and I didn't want a complete break in service. On some week ends when I'm away working I'll have the list on Moderation so that a row can't start in my absence. For those who question my tag line, it is by a Welsh Ulsterman who taught theology in Scotland and America. His early death robbed reformed Theology of potentially a great teacher. Edward Andrews Only by recovering prophetic and objective modes of preaching, in faithfulness to the gospel of Christ crucified and in contradiction to society's profane habits and priorities, can we truly challenge our dying culture and reveal to it its own possibilities for resurrection. Alan E Lewis. "Between Cross and Resurrection. A Theology of Holy Saturday" Eerdmans 2001 p 377