Queen Elizabeth's historic visit to Ireland - all the posts

Day One - Part One, Part Two

Day Two - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

Day Three - Part One, Part Two

Day Four (unique post)

Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Four (and last)

Queen Elizabeth II and party arrive at the Rock of Cashel

At the nave of the Cathedral at St Patrick's Rock Cashel

Her Majesty was escorted by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin TD and Dr Eugene Keane of the OPW.

Queen Elizabeth II with the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Michael O Connell in the English Market in County Cork

Queen Elizabeth II meeting Fish Monger Pat O'Connell and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney

Queen Elizabeth II meets the public outside the English Market

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visiting Tyndall National Institute in Cork where they were given a Nanoelectronics demonstration by Prof. Brendan O' Neill

Queen Elizabeth II and Angie Benhaffaf (far right) with her twins Hassan & Hussein (held by Sinead O'Sullivan, HR Dept Tyndall) pictured at the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork

From the Tyndall National Institute Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II travelled to Cork airport where she was due to depart.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny escorted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Three (part Two) - Convention Centre Event

President McAleese and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II arrive in the Convention Centre Dublin

 

Queen Elizabeth II meeting Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD and Minister for Children , Frances Fitzgerald TD

Photo shows from left Patrick Hickey, Olympic Council of Ireland; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II meeting Irish Olympic athlete, Derval O' Rourke (right)

The guests of honour watching the fashion show

Her Majesty meets performer Mary Byrne

HM Queen Elizabeth II tonight welcomed President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Enda Kenny among other guests to an event hosted by British Ambassador Julian King at the Convention Centre Dublin. The evening involved a fashion show, music and other entertainment.

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Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Three (part One) - The National Stud in Kildare

On the third day of her state visit to Ireland, Queen Elizabeth II visited The National Stud in Kildare. Some pictures from the day are available below.

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Photo shows stallion handler Paul Croke with "Jeremy" being viewed by Mr John Osbourne , CEO of The Irish National Stud ; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ; with Chryss O'Reilly , Chair of the Board of The Irish National Stud; Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney TD ; Mr Shane McEntee TD and HRH , Duke of Edinburgh ; in the Stallion Yard of the National Stud while on the third day of State Visit to Ireland .

Queen Elizabeth II receiving flowers from Emma Osbourne (8); with Mr John Osbourne , CEO of The Irish National Stud (right); and Chryss O'Reilly , Chair of the Board of The Irish National Stud (left)

Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Two (part five and last) - State dinner at Dublin Castle and Queen's speech

Thanks to twitter, I was able to follow many of these events today, live on RTE.ie. I seriously come to the conclusion I am building a crush on President Mary McAleese (friendly crush, worry not) and on Ireland. But I am sure that when I visit the Emerald Isle, the streets and sights will not be as morbidly empty as they have been these past days for security reasons.

McAleese seems to be a very warm lady - I saw it by the way she greeted every single attendant at Croke Park - and I think that her and the Queen hit it off - respectfully, of course. During the Queen's speech (see below), she said wow and applauded when the Queen said a few words in Gaelic and was very enthused to applaud again at the end.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, President Mary McAleese and Martin McAleese on arrival at Dublin Castle

Irish rugby legend Brian O'Driscoll was one of a number of guests with the opportunity to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The hall standing on arrival of President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen was wearing her Girls of the Great Britain and Ireland Tiara.

President Mary McAleese applauding Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after her speech

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A Uachtaráin agus a chairde (President and friends). Prince Philip and I are delighted to be here, and to experience at first hand Ireland's world-famous hospitality.

Together we have much to celebrate: the ties between our people, the shared values, and the economic, business and cultural links that make us so much more than just neighbours, that make us firm friends and equal partners.

Madam President, speaking here in Dublin Castle it is impossible to ignore the weight of history, as it was yesterday when you and I laid wreaths at the Garden of Remembrance.

Indeed, so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history, its many layers and traditions, but also the importance of forbearance and conciliation. Of being able to bow to the past, but not be bound by it.

Of course, the relationship has not always been straightforward; nor has the record over the centuries been entirely benign. It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss.

These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been injured, and their families. To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy.

With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all. But it is also true that no-one who looked to the future over the past centuries could have imagined the strength of the bonds that are now in place between the governments and the people of our two nations, the spirit of partnership that we now enjoy, and the lasting rapport between us. No-one here this evening could doubt that heartfelt desire of our two nations.

Madam President, you have done a great deal to promote this understanding and reconciliation.

You set out to build bridges. And I have seen at first hand your success in bringing together different communities and traditions on this island. You have also shed new light on the sacrifice of those who served in the First World War. Even as we jointly opened the Messines Peace Park in 1998, it was difficult to look ahead to the time when you and I would be standing together at Islandbridge as we were today.

That transformation is also evident in the establishment of a successful power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland. A knot of history that was painstakingly loosened by the British and Irish Governments together with the strength, vision and determination of the political parties in Northern Ireland.

What were once only hopes for the future have now come to pass; it is almost exactly 13 years since the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in favour of the agreement signed on Good Friday 1998, paving the way for Northern Ireland to become the exciting and inspirational place that it is today.

I applaud the work of all those involved in the peace process, and of all those who support and nurture peace, including members of the police, the Gardaí, and the other emergency services, and those who work in the communities, the churches and charitable bodies like Co-operation Ireland. Taken together, their work not only serves as a basis for reconciliation between our people and communities, but it gives hope to other peacemakers across the world that through sustained effort, peace can and will prevail.

For the world moves on quickly. The challenges of the past have been replaced by new economic challenges which will demand the same imagination and courage. The lessons from the peace process are clear; whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.

There are other stories written daily across these islands which do not find their voice in solemn pages of history books, or newspaper headlines, but which are at the heart of our shared narrative.

Many British families have members who live in this country, as many Irish families have close relatives in the United Kingdom.

These families share the two islands; they have visited each other and have come home to each other over the years.

They are the ordinary people who yearned for the peace and understanding we now have between our two nations and between the communities within those two nations; a living testament to how much in common we have.

These ties of family, friendship and affection are our most precious resource. They are the lifeblood of the partnership across these islands, a golden thread that runs through all our joint successes so far, and all we will go on to achieve.

They are a reminder that we have much to do together to build a future for all our grandchildren: the kind of future our grandparents could only dream of.

So we celebrate together the widespread spirit of goodwill and deep mutual understanding that has served to make the relationship more harmonious, close as good neighbours should always be.

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Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Two (part four) - Visit to Croke Park, site of 1920's Bloody Sunday

The monarch's journey of reconciliation continued during her first trip to the Irish Republic. The 85-year-old visited Croke Park - the scene of one of the darkest episodes in the history of British-Irish relations.

It was at this football ground – now an 82,000-seater stadium – in 1920 that British soldiers shot dead 13 spectators and one player during a Gaelic football match.

This was in retaliation for the death of 14 British intelligence agents at the hands of the Irish Republican Army.

Wearing yellow, the monarch was greeted by officials at the stadium – the home of Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association. They had pledged to give her a warm welcome, and certainly delivered on that promise. After receiving a tour of the locker room and the stadium facilities, the Queen was led out onto the pitch.

The visit was the perhaps the most significant of her trip in acknowledging past wrongs committed by Britain during its years of ruling Ireland.

 Queen Elizabeth and the President of the GAA, Christy Cooney, where she took a tour of the changing rooms and met with GAA sports stars, from Left: Hurlers Lar Corbett, and Padraic Maher from Tipperary, Footballer Kevin Nolan from Dublin, and Footballer Joe Sheridan from Meath.

Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh pictured at Croke Park in Dublin, where they were presented with a Hurley and sliotar by the President of the GAA.

                                    Departing Croke Park

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Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Two (part three) - Wreath laying ceremony at Irish War Memorial Garden

The next step of the journey took the Queen and Prince Philip to the Irish War Memorial Garden in Islandbridge. 

The Queen, dressed in a white and turquoise hat and a matching coat of swiss wool, paid a solemn tribute to Ireland's war dead, laying a wreath of poppies at the memorial in Dublin.

The memorial - now in pristine condition - was derelict for a long time because of the contempt felt towards those who had fought in the name of the crown.

Both the president, Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth performed a wreath laying ceremony.

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Queen Elizabeth historic visit to Ireland - Day Two (part two) - Visit to Guinness Storehouse

Day two of the sovereign's historic trip began with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, where she and Prince Philip watched "the perfect pint" being poured.

The Duke jokingly asked: "Is it made with Liffey water?" referring to the river running through the Irish capital.

Both the royal visitors declined the offer of trying the beverage, though Philip is said to have gazed longingly at the pint before he moved on.

Pictured viewing the Dublin cityscape in the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse Dublin, with television host Ryan Tubridy.

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Queen Elizabeth historic visit to Ireland - Day Two (part one) - Visit to Government Buildings

As part of her visit to Ireland, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II today visited Government Buildings to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Btw, Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. Enda Kenny was appointed only two months ago, in March 2011.

Here with Prince Philip and Fionnuala Kenny.

According to wikipedia, at its origins, this building that was to become Government Buildings was the last major public building built under British rule in Ireland. The foundation stone for the building was laid by King Edward VII in 1904. It was built on the site of a row of Georgian houses that were being controversially demolished one by one as the new building was erected. The building itself was designed by Sir Aston Webb, a British architect who was later to redesign the facade of Buckingham Palace. The final completed building was opened by King George V in 1911.

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Queen Elizabeth historic visit to Ireland - Day One (part two)

The Queen laid a wreath for those who died in the battle for Irish independence this afternoon during her historic state visit to Ireland. Dressed in white after changing out of an emerald green outfit, the monarch paid her respects in the Garden of Remembrance as the Irish tricolour flew at half mast.

The British national anthem was also played as the monarch stood beside Irish President Mary McAleese at the site where Ireland commemorates the men and women who died resisting British rule. Nearby some minor fights broke out as protesters clashed with police - but despite the unrest the Queen ploughed on unperturbed.

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The Queen, dressed in ivory, and Irish President Mary McAleese, arrive to lay a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance this afternoon

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