State visit by Elizabeth II to the Republic of Ireland: Difference between revisions

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{{current|date=May 2011}}
{{current|date=May 2011}}
{{Wikinews|Elizabeth II begins state visit to Ireland amid protests, security fears}}
{{Wikinews|Elizabeth II begins state visit to Ireland amid protests, security fears}}
On 17 May 2011, [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] began a [[state visit]] to the [[Republic of Ireland]], at the invitation of the [[President of Ireland]], [[Mary McAleese]]. The visit was planned to continue until 20 May. It is the first visit by a [[British Royal Family|British monarch]] to the area that is now the Republic of Ireland since the 1911 tour by her grandfather [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]], when it was still an integral part of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. The intervening period in the history of [[Irish republicanism]] saw the 1916 [[proclamation of the Irish Republic]] during the [[Easter Rising]] against British rule, leading ultimately to the present day situation of just [[Northern Ireland]] remaining as part of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]] on the island of [[Ireland]], alongside the sovereign republic which by 1949 had [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948|severed all vestigial ties]] with the British crown.<ref>Jason Walsh (16 May 2011). [http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/0516/How-will-Ireland-greet-Queen-Elizabeth-s-historic-visit "How will Ireland greet Queen Elizabeth's historic visit?"] [[Christian Science Monitor]].</ref><ref name="bbc 17may">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13420053|title=BBC News - Queen on first state visit to Republic of Ireland|date=17 May 2011|work=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=17 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="RTE 4Mar">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0304/queen.html|title=Britain's Queen Elizabeth to visit Ireland - RTÉ News|date=4 March 2011|work=[[RTÉ.ie]]|accessdate=17 May 2011}}</ref>
On 17 May 2011, [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] began a [[state visit]] to the [[Republic of Ireland]], at the invitation of the [[President of Ireland]], [[Mary McAleese]]. The visit was planned to continue until 20 May. It is the first visit by a [[British Royal Family|British monarch]] to the area that is now the Republic of Ireland since the 1911 tour by her grandfather [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]], when it was still an integral part of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. The intervening period in the history of [[Irish republicanism]] saw the 1916 [[proclamation of the Irish Republic]] during the [[Easter Rising]] against British rule, leading ultimately to the present day situation of just [[Northern Ireland]] remaining as part of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]] on the island of [[Ireland]], alongside the sovereign republic which by 1949 had [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948|severed all vestigial ties]] with the British crown.<ref>Jason Walsh (16 May 2011). [http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/0516/How-will-Ireland-greet-Queen-Elizabeth-s-historic-visit "How will Ireland greet Queen Elizabeth's historic visit?"] [[Christian Science Monitor]].</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13420053|title=BBC News - Queen on first state visit to Republic of Ireland|date=17 May 2011|work=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=17 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="RTE 4Mar">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0304/queen.html|title=Britain's Queen Elizabeth to visit Ireland - RTÉ News|date=4 March 2011|work=[[RTÉ.ie]]|accessdate=17 May 2011}}</ref>


The visit was seen as a symbolic normalisation of [[Republic of Ireland – United Kingdom relations|British–Irish relations]] following the signing of the 1998 [[Belfast Agreement|Good Friday Agreement]] which settled many outstanding issues of sovereignty and citizenship in Northern Ireland between the states. During the visit, the Queen was to visit sites of republican significance in Dublin, such as the [[Garden of Remembrance (Dublin)|Garden of Remembrance]] and [[Croke Park]], scene of the 1920 [[Bloody Sunday (1920)|Bloody Sunday]]. Arrangements for the visit included the largest security operation in the history of the Republic of Ireland.<ref name="telegraph-queen-ireland-largest-secuity-operation"/>
The visit was seen as a symbolic normalisation of [[Republic of Ireland – United Kingdom relations|British–Irish relations]] following the signing of the 1998 [[Belfast Agreement|Good Friday Agreement]] which settled many outstanding issues of sovereignty and citizenship in Northern Ireland between the states. During the visit, the Queen was to visit sites of republican significance in Dublin, such as the [[Garden of Remembrance (Dublin)|Garden of Remembrance]] and [[Croke Park]], scene of the 1920 [[Bloody Sunday (1920)|Bloody Sunday]]. Arrangements for the visit included the largest security operation in the history of the Republic of Ireland.<ref name="telegraph-queen-ireland-largest-secuity-operation"/>


==Background==
==Background==
Her visit comes 100 years to the year of the last visit to Ireland by a British monarch, after [[King George V]] made a 1911 visit to [[Dun Laoghaire]].<ref name="bbc 17may"/>
Her visit comes 100 years to day of the last visit to ireland by a British monarch after [[King George V]]'s 1911 visit to [[Dun Laoghaire]], though similar public celebrations were questioned amidst concerns of claims over the sovereingty of [[Northern Ireland]] and a possible propoganda coup for republicans. The visit also coincides with a stopover by by US President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>http://alanindyfed.blogspot.com/2011/05/ireland-awaits-unity-and-unification.html</ref>


==Initial reaction==
==Initial reaction==

Revision as of 05:54, 18 May 2011

Wikinews has related news:

On 17 May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip began a state visit to the Republic of Ireland, at the invitation of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. The visit was planned to continue until 20 May. It is the first visit by a British monarch to the area that is now the Republic of Ireland since the 1911 tour by her grandfather King George V, when it was still an integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The intervening period in the history of Irish republicanism saw the 1916 proclamation of the Irish Republic during the Easter Rising against British rule, leading ultimately to the present day situation of just Northern Ireland remaining as part of the United Kingdom on the island of Ireland, alongside the sovereign republic which by 1949 had severed all vestigial ties with the British crown.[1][2][3]

The visit was seen as a symbolic normalisation of British–Irish relations following the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which settled many outstanding issues of sovereignty and citizenship in Northern Ireland between the states. During the visit, the Queen was to visit sites of republican significance in Dublin, such as the Garden of Remembrance and Croke Park, scene of the 1920 Bloody Sunday. Arrangements for the visit included the largest security operation in the history of the Republic of Ireland.[4]

Background

Her visit comes 100 years to day of the last visit to ireland by a British monarch after King George V's 1911 visit to Dun Laoghaire, though similar public celebrations were questioned amidst concerns of claims over the sovereingty of Northern Ireland and a possible propoganda coup for republicans. The visit also coincides with a stopover by by US President Barack Obama.[5]

Initial reaction

British Prime Minister David Cameron described it as "a huge step forward" for diplomatic relations between the two countries,[6] while TaoiseachEnda Kenny linked the visit to the Good Friday Agreement being put into full effect.[3] She was welcomed by Irish President Mary McAleese.[7] Unionist leader and the Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said the visit was "a sign of the normalisation of relations between our two countries", while the leader of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams, said he did not "think this is the right time for the English Queen" to visit.[8] However, McAleese said it was "absolutely the right moment", and described the visit as "an extraordinary moment in Irish history".[9] Sir John Major, a former British prime minister, also rejected Adams' criticism that the visit was premature, saying the visit put "a seal on the past and builds for the future" and there had not been "anything of equivalent significance in the last few decades".[10]

However, the cost of the visit was a cause for concern. Joe Higgins TD asked in Dáil Éireann if "the queen of England [sic] might be politely asked to contribute to the cost of her bed & breakfast during her visit to Ireland", observing that "the Irish people needed the financial help since they could soon be – metaphorically speaking – sleeping rough, as the country faced bankruptcy to pay off the debts of German and French banks which had recklessly gambled and lost in the Irish property bubble".[11] According to Richard Boyd Barrett TD, the cost of the visit was approximately €30 million (US$42 million, GB ₤26 million).[12] Some citizens objected to the cost of the visit, with one saying "A lot of my colleagues are out of work and feel the money could be better spent".[13]

Her visit bore comparisons to Lord Mountbatten's visit when he was killed by an IRA bombing. Sligo Mayor Matt Lyons said that the local tourist industry was still recovering from the bombing: "Mullaghmore attracted a lot of English people prior to Lord Mountbatten's murder. It took years and years for that to recover and it hasn't really recovered."[14][15] Her visit to lay wreath at a monument for those who Fenians died for Irish independence was also met with controversy.[16]

Itinerary

Though the Queen is to make several public appearances onlookers will remain at a distance behind barriers. However, Her Majesty is expected to meet some members of the public who have been carefully selected in advance. Two water cannon have been imported to deal with any disorder that may arise.[4]

For the first three nights of her visit, the Queen will stay at Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park. Farmleigh House is the official Irish State Guest House.[17]

Day 1

The Queen arrived in Ireland, flying into Baldonnel military airbase with the Duke of Edinburgh.[18] She landed on schedule, "almost exactly at noon".[19] Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore was there to greet them when they got off the plane.[20] The Queen wore a Stewart Parvin jade green dress and coat accompanied by a Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat and Rachel Fox gave her flowers.[20] The Union Flag flew alongside the Irish tricolour and the flag of the European Union outside the Merrion Hotel opposite Government Buildings as she touched down on Irish soil.[19]

She appeared in the following Dublin locations: Garden of Remembrance, Trinity College, Dublin (TCD) and Áras an Uachtaráin (residence of the President of Ireland)[21] where the unprecedented playing of God Save the Queen took place amidst republican protests[22] was played after she and Prince Philip signed the guestbook.[23] While there Elizabeth inspected a guard of honour.[24] The Queen moved on to lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance [25] and then viewed the Book of Kells at Trinity College.[19] She was scheduled to be at Áras an Uachtaráin at 12:30, the Garden of Remembrance at 15:15 and Trinity College at 15:40.[17] She then departed to Farmleigh for the night.[17]

The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) held a peaceful protest against the royal visit at 18:30 at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street, Dublin, featuring former British soldiers and relatives of one British soldier killed in Afghanistan. Around 100 people attended including Richard Boyd Barrett, TD.[26]

The daughter of a bombing victam on 17 May, 1974 said that "You will never forget a family member but on this occasion, coming here, it's more emotional. But we want answers. We want to know why and we want to know who was involved. We want to know the truth."[27]

Day 2

The Queen is expected to appear in the following Dublin locations: Croke Park,[28] National War Memorial Gardens, Guinness Storehouse, Government Buildings and Dublin Castle.[21]

The Queen is to visit Croke Park where she is expected to watch children playing games of Gaelic football and hurling. Several Gaelic Athletic Association officials were reported to have refused to attend Croke Park on the eve of her visit.[29] Croke Park is an important location in the history of Anglo-Irish relations. British troops disrupted a Gaelic football game between Dublin and Tipperary at the stadium on 21 November 1920, shooting at players and spectators alike and eventually killing 14 people, including the Tipperary team captain Michael Hogan.[30] Today the stadium is the third largest in Europe.[30]

Day 3

The Queen is expected to appear at the Irish National Stud in County Kildare.[21]

Day 4

The Queen is expected to visit the Rock of Cashel in Cashel, South Tipperary, on her way to visit Cork.[21]

While in Cork, the Queen will visit the city's English Market on Princes Street before going to the Tyndall Institute, a research centre part of University College Cork. A formal reception is to take place at City Hall at the request of the Lord Mayor.[31]

The Queen is due to leave the country from Cork Airport in the evening.

Responses

Criticism

The Anglo-Irish singer-songwriter Morrissey, former frontman of The Smiths, penned a letter to Hot Press in which he said the visit was "part of a new palace PR campaign to re-invent the Windsors". The singer also criticised the removal of placard-carrying protesters from the scene of the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton weeks earlier as being "entirely against any notion of democracy, and is against freedom of speech".[32][33][34][35]

Novelist Sean O'Reilly said there was "more dissent on the streets than the media are allowing on the airwaves" and voiced opposition to the Queen's trip to the Garden of Remembrance "...even if she is very welcome in this country. There is more to be done and said before I can embrace her laying a wreath there".[13]

Women attending the Rotunda Hospital were warned that they would encounter road closures and heavy security on 17 May as the hospital was to be disrupted by Elizabeth laying a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance. A senior doctor reacted to the disruption, including the cancellation of hundreds of appointments and withdrawal of staff parking, by describing it as a "headache" that was going to have "a big impact on a working maternity hospital".[36]

Descendants of those who led the Easter Rising against British rule in 1916 described the visit as "full of contradictions" and "very inappropriate and insensitive". James Connolly's great-grandson noted one such contradiction: "The Garden of Remembrance honours all those who fought and died for Irish freedom and that's where the queen will be laying a wreath [...] Given that the Queen of England still occupies part of this island, is it not strange that she is honouring those who fought and died?"[32]

Threats of violence

The visit of the Queen to the Republic of Ireland has also led to threats of violence being issued. According to Scotland Yard, dissident Irish republicans issued a bomb threat regarding London on the eve of the visit.[9] It was the first coded warning issued outside Northern Ireland in a decade, and the threat was made from an Irish telephone number. However, the threat did not change the Irish terrorism threat level for the British mainland.[37] There was also a terror alert in Dublin on the evening of the eve of the visit. A pipe bomb was found on a Dublin-bound bus in Maynooth, County Kildare and made safe after a warning call was made to the police. A second suspect package was found in Dublin on the first day of the visit, but was declared a hoax after being examined.[38] On 17 May, bomb scares were reported in Inchicore and the northside Dublin suburb of Fairview.

Media coverage

The visit was covered extensively by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) and TV3. RTÉ and TV3 extended their normal programming. RTÉ broadcast events on television, radio and internet. The Queen and Us, by Tommie Gorman, was broadcast on the night of 17 May at the end of the first day of the visit (with a vt clock broadcast at the start of the last part).[39]

The visit was marked with several documentaries, including:

References

  1. ^ Jason Walsh (16 May 2011). "How will Ireland greet Queen Elizabeth's historic visit?" Christian Science Monitor.
  2. ^ "BBC News - Queen on first state visit to Republic of Ireland". BBC News Online. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Britain's Queen Elizabeth to visit Ireland - RTÉ News". RTÉ.ie. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, Laura (17 May 2011). "The Queen in Ireland: security operation is largest in republic's history". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  5. ^ http://alanindyfed.blogspot.com/2011/05/ireland-awaits-unity-and-unification.html
  6. ^ Stephen Collins and Conor Lally (17 May 2011). "Queen Elizabeth to begin historic visit to the Republic". The Irish Times.
  7. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13424403
  8. ^ "BBC News - Reaction: Queen visit to Ireland". BBC News Online. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  9. ^ a b "State visit an extraordinary moment - McAleese - RTÉ News". RTÉ.ie. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Major hails 'significant' visit". The Belfast Telegraph. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  11. ^ Higgins, Joe (17 May 2011). "Lawmaker: Irish should not roll out 'green carpet' for Queen Elizabeth". CNN. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Queen's historic visit to Ireland". BBC News Online. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  13. ^ a b McDonald, Henry (17 May 2011). "The Queen in Ireland: republicans raise a din but Dubliners extend a welcome... most people's major complaint is cost of security". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  14. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13369971
  15. ^ http://www.fubuku.com/queen-elizabeth-iis-cousin-lord-mountbatten-was-killed-by-a-bomb-in-the-ship/
  16. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2011/3219665.htm
  17. ^ a b c "Royal engagements: where the Queen will go today: The Queen's itinerary today". The Irish Times. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  18. ^ "Queen begins first state visit to Republic of Ireland". BBC. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  19. ^ a b c "Union Jack flies across from Government buildings as the Queen touches down". thejournal.ie. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  20. ^ a b "Queen completes today's public engagements". RTÉ.ie. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  21. ^ a b c d "The Queen's state visit to Ireland, 17–20 May". BBC. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  22. ^ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/queen-elizabeth-pays-tribute-to-irish-rebels-as-god-save-the-queen-plays-in-dublin-16001163.html
  23. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHFVNQa39S0
  24. ^ "Queen's visit to Ireland – live updates: 12.51pm". The Guardian. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  25. ^ "Queen's visit to Ireland – live updates: 3.27pm". The Guardian. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  26. ^ "Violence at Dublin protests". The Irish Times. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  27. ^ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/tears-from-terror-victims-son-as-queen-elizabeth-arrives-in-ireland-16001145.html#ixzz1MgCifOsj
  28. ^ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/queen-to-visit-irish-massacre-site-16001406.html
  29. ^ "GAA officials in royal snub". JOE.ie. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  30. ^ a b "The Queen in Ireland: Croke Park history". The Daily Telegraph. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  31. ^ City Council, Cork. "Visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Cork".
  32. ^ a b "Smith icon Morrisey - Queen is anti-democracy". The Belfast Telegraph. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  33. ^ "Morrissey says the Queen should give six counties back to Ireland". Hot Press. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  34. ^ "The Very Existence of the Queen Is Against Any Notion of Democracy". Hot Press. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  35. ^ "Queen's visit to Ireland – live updates: 11.50am". The Guardian. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  36. ^ "Queen's visit hits 500 maternity check-ups". The Belfast Telegraph. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  37. ^ "BBC News - Bomb warning received in London". BBC News Online. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  38. ^ "Luas Red Line returns to normal after alert - RTÉ News". RTÉ.ie. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  39. ^ Melia, Paul (17 May 2011). "RTE and TV3 to provide extensive TV, radio and web coverage of week's historic events". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  40. ^ a b c "The Queen's Visit". RTÉ.ie. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.

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