FOREIGN AFFAIRS ANALYSIS:A SMALL but active minority of Irish-Americans took a keen interest in the Troubles in Northern Ireland and many of these had a "simplistic and emotional view" of the situation, which led them to support the Provisional IRA.

This is the analysis provided in a confidential document prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs for taoiseach Jack Lynch prior to his US visit in May 1978.

"Those Irish-Americans who interest themselves in Irish affairs or who actively participate in Irish organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ancient Order of Hibernians, emerald societies and county organisations are mostly Irish-born or have Irish parents," it noted.

"The total number of persons involved with these organisations is thought to be about 100,000. It is in this group that support for the Provisional IRA exists most strongly.

"On the one hand, the Provisional IRA look to these Irish-Americans for moral and financial support as well as weapons.

"On the other hand, Irish-Americans in this group are almost the only category who continuously parade themselves as such and, to that extent, vociferous support on their part for violence in Ireland can be and has been confused by American politicians and the public generally as representative of an enormous Irish-American constituency and/or of the feelings of the Irish in Ireland."

This group had shown "considerable loyalty" to Ireland, "especially as tourists", and comprised a "crucial" proportion of transatlantic passengers each year.

"Their loyalty, however, has never extended to Irish institutions of government, especially so far as the issue of Irish nationalism is concerned," it added.

Like other emigré communities in the US, these Irish-Americans felt "socially and culturally insecure". Their attitude to the government back home was: "We owe you nothing. You could not even provide us with a job."

The document observes that "it irks many of them to hear of Irish economic development because that suggests that the personal and cultural sacrifice of emigration was pointless".

"Many of the Irish-born working-class emigrants feel that Irish State and semi-State activities in the US are geared only to the white-collar middle-class Irish from whom they feel deeply separated and this carries over into their attitude to distinguished visitors from Ireland who, they feel, shun them or despise them.

"They tend to cling closely to a familiar system of historic myths of British repression and Irish failure which provides them with a history, an identity and a cause.

"Northern Ireland provides a focus for all of this. Some of them see the Republic, its Government and to a lesser extent its people, as having betrayed their cause."

The analysis, which may raise hackles even 30 years later, concludes: "There is, moreover, little doubt that Irish-Americans (especially those in this category) like to be congratulated on their achievements in the US and to be told of the inspiration their success provides to those at home to solve their problems openly, democratically and rationally."