NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Martin McGuinness describes Queen’s handshake as 'highly symbolic'

Martin McGuinness describes Queen’s handshake as 'highly symbolic'

Former IRA commander spoke at Westminster on British / Irish relations

HILDA HIGGINS,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, June 29, 2012, 7:54 AM

Updated Friday, June 29, 2012, 11:05 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

19 Comments

Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast this morning

Photo by Paul Faith/PA Wire

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has described his meeting with Queen Elizabeth as highly significant and symbolic.

Speaking at a Sinn Fein event in Westminster, McGuinness said it could help define "a new relationship between Britain and Ireland and between the Irish people themselves."

A former IRA commander, McGuinness made history on Wednesday during a meeting at which him and Queen Elizabeth shook hands, as part of the Queen's two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

This week's symbolic event has been hailed as a watershed moment in the peace process.

The handshake was public and occurred at a theatre in south Belfast. During his parting words McGuinness told the Queen in Gaelic: "Goodbye and God's speed."

The MP said the meeting at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast "came about as a result of decades of work constructing the Irish peace process."

"I was, in a very pointed, deliberate and symbolic way, offering the hand of friendship to unionists through the person of Queen Elizabeth for which many unionists have a deep affinity," he said.
"It is an offer I hope many will accept in the same spirit it was offered."

He said the issues between Britain and Ireland have not been resolved but "we now operate in a new context of compromise, agreement and peace."

During his address McGuinness expressed remorse regarding the troubles.

"I genuinely regret every single life that was lost during the conflict, and today I want every family to know that your pain is not being ignored," he said.

He added that the "task of building national reconciliation is as much a part of the peace process as anything that has gone before".

He called on the Orange Order to begin dialogue with Sinn Fein and nationalist residents.

He said they needed to "seriously debate how they are going to step forward and make their contribution to a lasting peace in the coming weeks".

Thursday’s event was attended by Sinn Fein MPs Michelle Gildernew, Pat Doherty, Conor Murphy and Paul Maskey. Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South Central, Aengus O Snodaigh.

Read the full text of his speech here.

Nster.com

E-mail

19 Comments

See all comments

seanomelb | Jul 04, 2012, 07:41 PM EDT

The SDLP is more effective? Seamus their numbers in the assembly do not support that fact.

Report abuse

seamus60 | Jul 04, 2012, 10:48 AM EDT

Seano. It is indeed the SDLP who are to the fore on the subject of Internment of Republicans etc. They are to the fore in relation to the Ballymurphy Massacre etc. SF have not uttered a single DEMAND for anything since entering gov. There was a three page article in yesterdays Irish News on the resignation of Angela Nelson (42 year party veteran and Councillor representing Poleglass etc, W/Belfast). Even though Gerry and Martin were busy pushing the line that there was a very conclusive consultation within the party and relatives of fallen vol`s as to the queen before any decision would be taken on a hand shake. Angela and the fallen volunteers families are still waiting on the consultation to tyake place. Angela has pointed out that she like other Councillors she has spoken to have only been prevy to what the mainstream media have been releasing. On such a serious matter the same contempt should now be shown to Gerry and Martin, who by all accounts own the party. Ruling by fooling is no rule, never mind they`re the best we have. Republicanism is broke and its more likely the SDLP would go out of their way to fix it, before the leadership that done all the damage ever will.

Report abuse

seanomelb | Jul 03, 2012, 07:01 PM EDT

correction he died 2007.

Report abuse

seanomelb | Jul 02, 2012, 08:48 PM EDT

I'm not disagreeing with you Seamus I fully understand the "old guard" are in control and that some republicans (the family of Bobby Sands) and other high profile people are disappointed by the quick acquiescence of Sinn Fein to accept the status quo.My own father who was in solitary(Arbour Hill 1936 and the Curragh 1941)thought Adams sold out to cheaply and I agree. He had meetings with McGuinness and the late Daithi O'Connell in the 70's and the 80's and left Sinn Fein On the signing of the treaty He died 2005 aged 95. Seamus regardless of the terms of the GFA. Sinn Fein and its failed leadership are all we have until fresh blood takes over. The SDLP have proven less effective as they lean more to Britain than Sinn Fein.

Report abuse

seamus60 | Jul 02, 2012, 06:01 PM EDT

Seano. Open channels are nothing new and on their own can not be constrewed as conspiracies. However when it transpires that individual members of an Army Council are using private channels unknown to that same Council alarm bells should be loud enough to get the fire brigade out, never mind Internal security. But hey it did`nt matter anyway when we look at who was in control of the same. The bold Freddie and others remained in position for 20 years plus. In total contradiction of standing Army orders that as with any Army such posts be alternated by staff so as to stop or at least hinder infilltration. Atempting to highlight the issue is most likely what cost Joe O Connor his life. You should read up on Adams roll in the second Hungerstrike. The roll he had denied until he had no other option. But still refuses to answer questions from lifelong Republicans who want answers as to why the last six brave men died without logical reason.

Report abuse

seamus60 | Jul 02, 2012, 05:35 PM EDT

Seano. The alternative to SF could be anything as long as its transparent and truthful. There are many good socialists amongst the SF membership who allow themselves to be gagged on certain issues due to all preferance being afforded to the never ending peace process. I would question these peoples integrity in any fresh clean SF.They have failed to speak out and allowed themselves to be manipulated as we did as soldiers in the army.Had we known half of what we know now Volunteers would have been harder come by. Differance being that a nod and a wink can mean lots of things in the process of politics that accompany a war. Sf are no longer on a war footing, making the nod and wink culture something that should be exposed in the interest of democrecy within the party and in general. Most heads in the party (in the North) have grown up with that culture and are old dogs needing new tricks. The 26 is a differant matter where young fresh blood coming through will expect the party to be run as a political one and nothing else. No one in the North would have dared say they couldn`t live on what the party allows them and that the party centralises the differance. Even the differance on an elected representitive expenses that should be spent for the good of that reps constituancy. The leadership has been the same forever and allowed to stay like that as preferred by the brits. Just look at the party North and all its contridictions on what it impliments as opposed to what it says it will do for the same Irish people in the South. The nod and the wink culture is also now cross party between the DUP and SF. The type of politics the people of the 26 are fed up to the teeth with. SF will give them more of the same.

Report abuse

IrelandNorth | Jul 02, 2012, 07:36 AM EDT

British national archive papers on the 1916 Rising weren't released until 2006 under the Good Friday Agreement, 1997. That's 90 years after the event (ie three times the nominal 30 year rule), so controversial were they considered to be still. Admittedly, WWII delayed things, as did the most recent spate of the Troubles. The WWI controversial Defence of the Realm Act (DORA), 1914 facilitating the suspension of democracy(?) & declaration of martial law in any part of Her/His Majesty's (HM's) then realm, betrayed a game plan to be set in motion whenever the material interests of the Council-of-Ten (richest families who own England, possess Great Britain and control the United Kingdom (as well as raise her standing army)) are sufficiently threatened. Alas, the material interests of that same over privileged class (togther with their native Irish petit-bourgeoisie) is now served by a reunited Ireland (back in the Commonwealth of Nations), in this era of global economic retrenchment. Now, how's that for a conspiracy theory - guys!

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Jul 02, 2012, 04:22 AM EDT

If that's the best you can come up with, Seano, why bother?

Report abuse

seanomelb | Jul 01, 2012, 07:23 PM EDT

Typical ignorance from the Brit Dan Lynch.

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Jul 01, 2012, 06:48 AM EDT

This sounds like a scene from ‘Life of Brian’…the ‘Peoples Popular Front’ against the ‘Popular Peoples Front’…everybody’s out of step but them…but supporting those who ruined the lives of real people, in pursuit of their self-seeking agenda…makes it a tragedy, not a comedy...

Report abuse

seanomelb | Jun 30, 2012, 08:31 PM EDT

Seamus keeping a line open is not necessarily a conspiracy.Enemies often talk behind closed doors to find common ground and that is obviously dangerous as it can come back and bite you in the bum.Forget not that some British politicians may have been appalled at MI5/6 were sleeping with the enemy so to speak.Therefore the conversation may be meaningless.I know Seamus you are a good republican ,what is your alternative to Sinn Fein?/

Report abuse

warrenpoint00 | Jun 30, 2012, 06:41 PM EDT

Martin is only one man he does not represent the broader Irish republican community any more and represents them even less since his hand shake for votes.While we all know he has nationalist aspirations at heart he and Adams are on a power surge for votes in the Dail and in doing so they have alienated themselves from all true Irish republicans.Sad day for Irish nationalists the day Marty shook the hand of the butcher. Shame on you Martin.

Report abuse

seamus60 | Jun 30, 2012, 04:45 PM EDT

Seano. With respect don`t be too quick to dismiss some of what Dean is saying. Every time gov documents are released under the 30 year act, more and more unsavoury information comes to light. Who would ever have thought Martin would have been in contact with Micheal Oatley from MI5/6 through out the seventies without the Army Councils permission or knowledge of same. Who ever would have thought that Gerry had a direct channel to those brits who really mattered during the Hungerstrike. Always denied even when Rick O Rawes book came out. Finally admitted after Derry man Brendan Duddy (mountain climber) and 30 year papers confirmed the facts. Every year will no doubt turnover stones dirtier than the year befores. I personally think its about time those ex Army Councill members under death threat for possable breach of silence, stepped up to the mark. After all where can Adams and Mc Guinness go from here, having played their final cards as republicans.

Report abuse

Nicoletta | Jun 30, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT

Well done McGuinness and Her Majesty. I wish my dear old dad had been alive to see this, after living through the Troubles as an Irishman in London, like many, many others.

Report abuse

pilib04 | Jun 29, 2012, 07:41 PM EDT

Well done, Martin.

Report abuse