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Heroes

Mark Devenport | 16:18 UK time, Tuesday, 17 March 2009

Within the last hour President Obama has said that the people of Northern Ireland "responded heroically" to the dissident murders and that he is more convinced than ever that peace will prevail.

The President made his comments after accepting the traditional bowl of shamrock from Brian Cowen. Earlier he joked about their common Offaly roots saying they had yet to clarify if they were cousins. Thrown a question about whether he intended to visit the county, the President answered "I hope so".

Around now the First and Deputy First Ministers are due to be meeting the President's National Security Adviser Jim Jones and the President will "drop by". We are waiting for a still photograph of the encounter.

Earlier the Deputy First Minister told a breakfast reception that the dissident republicans ' strategy would not deliver a United Ireland "in a million years".

Some young people from the provided the entertainment at a breakfast reception for the First and Deputy First Ministers. Martin McGuinness told those present that the dissident republican strategy would not deliver a United Ireland "in a milion years".

So are the politicians right when.they vow that the violent minority will not succeed? That will depend on the future attitudes of the younger generation, whether they be singers promoting community harmony or the disaffected youths we have seen rioting out on the streets of Craigavon.

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