Politicians from both sides of the Irish Sea have hailed the immediate impact of Queen’s visit and praised the wreath laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and British Foreign Minister William Hague have both said they were moved when the Queen laid a wreath in honor of Ireland’s rebel leaders on Tuesday.
“The events on Tuesday represent a symbolism beyond words,” said the Irish leader Kenny.
“The way the Queen bowed her head after she laid the wreath was exceptionally powerful.”
Kenny had earlier lunched with the Queen at President Mary McAleese’s residence in the Phoenix Park and was joined at the Garden of Remembrance event by former Prime Ministers Brian Cowan, Bertie Ahern and Albert Reynolds.
Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore also singled out events in the Garden of Remembrance for special mention when he hosted a joint press conference with British counterpart Hague.
“The scenes we have witnessed in the Garden are about moving on from the pages of history,” said Gilmore, leader of the Labor Party.
“The visit is also about moving on from our recent economic history. That is the project of the Government - that we move on and rebuild our economy and our reputation.”
Hague was also of the view that that the wreath-laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance was an important and intentional statement.
“It speaks to the past, but it does show that we’re able to move on to the future, and make the most of normal relationships with friendly neighbors,” said the former Conservative Party leader.
“This visit involves a great deal of recognition of the past and there is no glossing over of this past.
Acknowledging the events of the past while showing how the two countries are moving on is the right approach, rather than seeing thing in terms of an apology.
“The Queen has made over 300 overseas visits but this one is particularly special because it involves Britain’s nearest neighbor and one of our most important trading partners.
“It marks the transformation of the relationship between Britain and Ireland in recent years, the strength of our economic, political and family ties and the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelbourne | May 22, 2011, 07:35 PM EDT
She's back in her palace giggling "their easily convinced"
barneyjo | May 21, 2011, 04:24 PM EDT
@Daithi - like I said before, shes gone, away home, so relax. You're still here, as am I and the sky didnt fall in. You'll have loads of time to ferment plenty of angst and loathing before the next Royal arrives. Who knows, William and Kate maybe? More likely to be one of the "lessers" engaged on Trade Mission and such like!! Still, A Royal by any other name is still a Royal, eh!!!!!
DaithiSuibhne | May 20, 2011, 02:55 PM EDT
@ Barneyjo- No I believe my 'sickness' is actually disgust from some of the comments you and others like you continue to post regarding this 'unethical' royal visit. Anyone have a Bromo?
mamaginnty | May 19, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT
GoergeD, covering your embarrassment by trying to be funny cause you can't read irish. ouch. The words you wrote earlier were backwards, irish does not go in a straight line like english.
GeorgeDillon | May 19, 2011, 07:30 AM EDT
Towngate wrote: "A simple display of Majestic Humility.Thank you,Ma'am, from the heart of my Irish Bottom!" Well said, sir.
GeorgeDillon | May 19, 2011, 07:28 AM EDT
Momma G: Is that gibberish you wrote supposed to be Irish? It's like something that a monkey fooling around on a computer wrote. Was that what happened?
Morninghours | May 19, 2011, 12:01 AM EDT
To those who wanted an apology: PM Cameron apologized for Bloody Sunday, and PM Blair apologized for Britain's role in the Famine. Would it really have been any more meaningful if the 80 year old queen, who holds no real power, apologized for each and every atrocity committed by the crown since the time of Henry II?
barneyjo | May 18, 2011, 08:44 PM EDT
@Daithi et al- could it be that your sickness bout was brought on by the many inconvenient truths you are obliged to swallow in the course of this visit? Dont worry, in two days she'll be gone and then you can go back to producing your own natural wholesome psuedo republican "take" on things that impresses so many across the world!
seanomelbourne | May 18, 2011, 08:01 PM EDT
Every where her royal tragic visited she was surrounded by her shameless Irish cohorts. To have labour party ministers bow and scrape to a British monarch would bring tears to their eyes of Larkin and Connolly. She is so loved by the Irish, the spineless authorities cleared Dublin of all it's citizens.
mamaginnty | May 18, 2011, 06:56 PM EDT
i gcuimhne ar fad a throid ar feadh gaeilge irish saor in aisce.
mamaginnty | May 18, 2011, 06:42 PM EDT
So very well said Sirpeter, and quote ( the way the queen bowed her head after she laid the wreath was exceptionally powerfull ) jasus everyone does that in remembrance. What do you people want the irish to do, go down on our knees and say..oh thank you your majesty...for what ? We are still waiting.
sirpeter | May 18, 2011, 03:31 PM EDT
@jerrydonovan..Let me tell you something.The reason a hell of alot of Irish people look over our shoulder is because the ordinary Irish people have been stabbed in the back many times by foreign and domestic traitors. Tune in to the visit and have a good look at who they are!!
jerrydonovan | May 18, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT
Thank God that the vast majority are willing to look and move to the future.For those who are contionually looking back I would remind them that the easiest way to trip over something is to always keep your head facing backwards.Also,like a picture a gesture can be worth a thousand words.
DaithiSuibhne | May 18, 2011, 11:43 AM EDT
This episode of 'Irish History' was so moving, I had to move to the toilet to puke my guts up. What a pathetic display.
Sparklet | May 18, 2011, 11:15 AM EDT
She should apologise. Even if her advisors haven't approved of it. Even Mary Robinson said it wasn't appropriate. I don't know why.
Trealach | May 18, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT
If the Crown can't find it in its heart, to apologise to a nation for the wrongdoing perpetrated in the name of the Crown, then the wreath laying is nothing more than a hollow gesture - and will be marked in history as such.
Irishphotograph | May 18, 2011, 10:31 AM EDT
Check out my channel for updated videos/images of the Queen's visit..Youtube search imagesbydavid
joan1954 | May 18, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT
We need peace and this one gesture spoke volumes for moving away from the past.
TiocfaidhArmani | May 18, 2011, 10:14 AM EDT
James Connelly was out protesting the last Royal visit to Ireland. I wonder what he would have made of a British royal today paying tribute to him while they still occupy part of his country? A sad day for the republican people of Ireland.
Wingeire1 | May 18, 2011, 10:02 AM EDT
Yeah, the playing of God Save the Queen was especially moving.
Towngate | May 18, 2011, 09:57 AM EDT
A simple display of Majestic Humility.Thank you,Ma'am, from the bottom of my Irish Heart!
Irishphotograph | May 18, 2011, 09:55 AM EDT
Check out my channel for updated videos/images of the Queen's visit..Youtube search imagesbydavid
johnshiel | May 18, 2011, 09:29 AM EDT
you never know what's going to be in a moment, even if it's billed as a collossal waste of scarce moneys... but my hope is that this visit by the q to the Garden of Remembrance will be an image long remembered. and a moment beyond which many people on many sides breathed easier from then on. that would be my hope and my hopeful prediction.