some time ago when i was feeling all patriotic about the British contribution to rock (an effect of living in america where critics are often quite dismissive of UK music after about 1983) it did suddenly strike me that when you look at it, the absolute key figure across at least three decades are second-generation Irish:

Lennon & McCartney

John Lydon

Morrissey & Marr


Not forgetting Kevin Rowland, Ian McCulloch (presumably?), Shaun Ryder (am i right?), Oasis, and many more. Oh yes and My Bloody Valentine.

It's quite remarkable really.