The news that a five-strong group of American Indians is to perform at the Fianna Fβil ardfheis this evening as a warm-up to the Micheβl Martin warm up to Bertie Ahern's address has led some to speculate that things must be worse than they seem. There were visions of war dances, tom-toms and smoke signals. Not so. The Matis, a tribe with mixed Indian, Irish and French blood, play Irish traditional music and step dance and will perform at 5.30 p.m. along with Bru Boru. They played at Comhaltas Ceolt≤ir∅ ╔ireann on Wednesday night.
The visit is being sponsored by Californian multi-millionaire and fourth-generation Irish-American, Tom Tracy. Tracy is a colourful figure - a papal knight who has championed unionism and criticised Sinn FΘin. A Republican, he lobbied the Bush administration to be appointed ambassador to Ireland, but he had little support either with the Dublin government or among influential Irish-Americans. He has accompanied the group to Dublin and will attend both the ardfheis and the State funerals tomorrow.