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Queen Elizabeth urged to see the real Ireland during her visit

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, February 7, 2011, 7:54 AM

Updated Monday, February 7, 2011, 7:54 AM

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Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth is set to visit Ireland in May but security fears over the first visit by a British monarch in a hundred years may restrict her movements to the capital.

But tourism chiefs all across the country have appealed to the Queen to see more of Ireland than Dublin’s Fair City with the real Kingdom vying for her attention.

Kerry County Councilor Michael Gleeson wants the Queen to follow in the footsteps of Queen Victoria and visit Killarney.

The town’s council are in talks with the British Ambassador over a possible visit to mark the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s trip there in 1861.

“Where she visits would be a decision for the joint security parties in Dublin and the UK, but I would expect that if she can be safeguarded properly in Dublin that she can be in Killarney,” Gleeson told the Irish Independent.

The British royal party are expected to be based at the government mansion Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park.

They will be hosted for the duration of their trip by President Mary McAleese but hopes remain high that the Queen will venture outside Dublin.

“It would have been incredibly beneficial to the rural economy in Ireland but particularly for Kerry tourism,” said Killarney hotelier Michael Rosney.

“It would have been worth 10 years of the combined spend on marketing and advertising to have a picture of the queen at Ladies’ View.”

Cork and Waterford tourist authorizes are also seeking a Royal visit to be included on the May schedule.

Nster.com

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barneyjo | Mar 05, 2011, 09:52 AM EST

In 1977 I went with my family to an investiture at Buckingham Palace, as my late father had been awarded an Honour. This was most unusual (if not rare) for a northern catholic Nationalist at the time. After having sought advice from family and friends, my Dad decided to accept the invitation. On the day of the ceremony he had to wait in a separate room with the other recipients. At one stage he sought out a bathroom and was escorted by one of the palace Footmen. In the course of a conversation it emerged that the Footman was the most Senior Footman in the palace,and was due to retire after 40 years of service. He was also Irish, a Catholic, and from Tralee where he was due to return to after retirement. The Footman very kindly gave my dad a 10 minute tour of the royal apartments that were nearest to the Ballroom where the ceremony was to take place. Right up to his death, my Dad never forgot the kindness shown to him by a Kerry man in Buckingham palace on that day!!

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barneyjo | Mar 04, 2011, 06:56 PM EST

Surely if all the Irish (and Irish- American) PEEPLE pray heard enough, maybe one of her Corgi dogs will get sick and the visit will be cancelled!!

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mamaginnty | Mar 04, 2011, 06:49 PM EST

I would take the queen by the hand, oh forgot, peasants are not allowed to touch, well by donkey and cart to Co Wexford and make her watch the film on board the replica of a famine ship.

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mamaginnty | Mar 04, 2011, 06:39 PM EST

FallsRNat, when we do have our united Ireland you will probably choke to death on your own spit.

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kurtjohnson | Feb 16, 2011, 08:57 PM EST

I think britain should waste more of FallsNRat's taxes by sending him to Afghanistan instead of sending betty the German to Ireland.

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sirpeter | Feb 10, 2011, 06:23 PM EST

Seamus aka FallsRNat ..I don't want her,but it's all in the plan for a United Ireland. Soften up a few more prods into thinking,we love the Queen..I reckon because of this visit it will change the mind of 10% of the prods who were against a United Ireland..especially prod kids..They see it on TV and first impressions last. They won't have the hostility which is over..Rathlin Island is where ye will be put,If ye cause trouble.

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FallsRNat | Feb 10, 2011, 02:19 PM EST

i don't see why she should come & waste my taxes on a bunch of half drunken sectarioan yahoos such as live in the south of ireland

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kurtjohnson | Feb 10, 2011, 12:08 AM EST

The "royalty" have been mere window dressing for centuries (although no doubt used as props for celebratory triumphalism and supremacism). This britain monstosity, which began with the Norman nation mugging, in substance has been a commercial oligarchy since the importation of bill the orange as a weak monarch to mirror the puppet executive model of Italian commercial states (the process began with Cromwell). The monarchy has become progressively weaker while the commercial/banking oligarchs have increased in power and wealth under the guise that britain is a "democracy" with an "unwritten constitution" (LOL).

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sirpeter | Feb 08, 2011, 08:06 PM EST

I can see the Bull McCabe in the movie the Field... The Queen!!?... Are these the same Royalty who took the corn from our mouths when the potatoes went rotten in the ditches?...Are these the same Royalty that took the meat from our tables when the juices of grass ran from our mouths?... Are these the same Royality that drove our ancestors to the four corners of the earth?" "The English are long gone, Bull". GONE!!, because I drove them out, me & my kind, GONE!!!....But not forgotten Towngate.

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DanOLoingsigh | Feb 08, 2011, 07:35 PM EST

I certainly agree that we should force the Queen of England to see the real Ireland…how about this for an itinerary – Day 1 – Tour of Ghost Estates in Leitrim and Roscommon, Day 2 – Rossport 5 and meeting with Willie Corduff, later cruise on the Jeanie Johnson, Day 3 – Galway Races, featuring Galway Tent, later opening of Pavee Point interpretative center, Tuam: This itinerary will be shown around the world, and be of immense benefit to our tourist industry.

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jacersagain | Feb 08, 2011, 03:39 PM EST

I think she should visit the Real Ireland – see the old roofless stone houses littering all counties that were vacated when her forbears’ minions threw them out of their homes as the minions partied away in mansions and castles. And Irish Tourism Chiefs should not be afraid to show her the legacy of their work.

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warrenpoint00 | Feb 08, 2011, 01:48 AM EST

The real Ireland. Ha, ha ,ha Cahal what is wrong with you man.Now I know you are from the royal county or there abouts, and I know you are A great loyal supporter of the GAA, as well of rugby union which is all Ireland inclusive, but I never did figure you as a partionist, free state limey loving Patsy Fagan sort of dude.You should be penning for the Irish indo Cathal.

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peterson | Feb 07, 2011, 07:59 PM EST

The "real Ireland" is not entirely in Dublin,Shannon, Belfast and other large cities, it is found also in the small towns, villages throughout this small but GREAT country. She should see and visit the people there as well.

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Spiddal | Feb 07, 2011, 05:36 PM EST

The "REAL" Ireland???

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purcellclan | Feb 07, 2011, 05:10 PM EST

Yup! and whatelse did we expect!

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