Derry winner of UK city of culture celebrates. Confused

Sceala Clann T.D. Location: Wicklow

Crowd scenes following the announcement of Derry - London Derry as winner of the UK City of Culture 2013.

Irish Community Video

The citizens of the maiden city ...united in joyous celebration. Congratulations to the people of Derry. This should be good news for all of Ireland.

Without wishing to dampen celebrations ...confused has graduated with confusing honors.
When we in the Republic of Ireland watch ....as Derry celebrates as winner of the ..UK ...City of Culture 2013 ....and it appears that the majority are overjoyed ...this further confuses our understanding of NI.
We in the Republic of Ireland are now most confused.
We have had Derry presented to us as ..the Irish nationalist city of NI ...possibly the most Irish nationalist city in the island of Ireland.
We have had presented ...the citizens of Derry as being divided..often bitterly ...even over the name of their city.
The minority ....British and unionist population ...refer to the city as ... London Derry.
The vast majority ....Irish and nationalist population ...refer to the city as .... Derry.

Both sides of the divide appeared to agree upon one thing ...being most sensitive as to the correct name of their city.
Visitors were never quite sure if they should refer to the city ...as the Irish Derry ...or the British appended London Derry. It now seems such sensitive concerns were misplaced ...one should refer to the city as ...Derry - London Derry ...both ...and at the same time.

Over in the UK the British must be every bit as confused as we Irish ....as to what the NI divisions ....if not the whole sad and awful troubles were about.
The British were accused of indifference ....we Irish thought we knew better ...we understood the divide.
When one considers the troubles ...all the violence ...the claims and counter claims ...of ...who were the victims and who were the oppressors ....claims it seemed dependent upon ....either religious denomination ...or national identity.
A Irish nationalist city ....wildy celebrating as one ....when chosen as the U.K city of culture. Confused ...Confusing.
It is very good to see the joy ....but it does not make immediate sense to us.
Can someone from NI ...please explain what we are missing.

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Derry winner of UK city of culture celebrates. Confused

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