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Sinn Fein set to meet Queen Elizabeth during Northern Ireland visit

Speculation grows that Martin McGuinness will meet the Queen

ANTOINETTE KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, June 2, 2012, 7:29 AM

Updated Saturday, June 2, 2012, 7:29 AM

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Queen Elizabeth II

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History may well be in the making as Sinn Fein look set to meet Queen Elizabeth during her Diamond Jubilee visit to Northern Ireland later this month.

On Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, will visit Northern Ireland on June 26-27 as part of their UK wide tour to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen has regularly visited Northern Ireland throughout the past four decades, but none of her previous visits were announced in advance, to curb any threat of dissident violence.

Last year, Sinn Fein leaders declined to meet the Queen during her first state visit to the Republic, but Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has since stated that he would be willing to meet the head of the monarchy if she were to return to Northern Ireland.

On Thursday, First Minister Peter Robinson recognized that Sinn Fein’s decision to meet the Queen would not be taken lightly.

"There is no doubt it would be a difficult decision to be taken both by her majesty and by Sinn Fein. There's a lot of history, but the history is on both sides in these issues," Robinson said outside Stormont Castle in east Belfast.

"In the past, only a select few got to greet her majesty the Queen and most people would have been unaware that a visit was even taking place," Robinson said.

" The public will have the best opportunity in my lifetime to be able to see and greet her majesty the queen. This is testimony to the changed times in which we live."

Last month McGuinness, a former IRA chief, said republicans were on "journey of reconciliation and dialogue with unionists".

Speaking after the Queen’s visit to Ireland last year, he remarked that he wouldn’t rule out meeting the Queen in the future.

McGuinness told the BBC's Inside Politics programme: "I've made it clear that the visit of Queen Elizabeth of Britain to the south was something that we looked at with considerable interest.

"I think the fact that she was prepared to recognise the importance of the Irish language, that she was prepared to stand in a very dignified way to honour those patriots who struggled in 1916 to bring about a free and independent 32-county Irish Republic, that made an impact upon me.

"So that's an issue that I will ponder, and I wouldn't rule anything out."

A recent Belfast Telegraph straw poll indicated that a majority (54 percent) supported McGuinness meeting the Queen, while 30 percent opposed.

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seanomelb | Jun 09, 2012, 04:09 AM EDT

You chastise Clevelander for his post on the demise of Lizzie and then you wish for Clevelander's demise how hypocritical.

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YoungPike | Jun 07, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT

clevelander: celebrate her funeral? Why say such a thing about a woman who has tirelessly devoted herself to her country & people for sixty years. Let's hope your funeral comes along soon!

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IrelandNorth | Jun 07, 2012, 08:20 AM EDT

Having visited eastern and southern Ireland last year, it's prudent that she visit Northern Ireland this year, and that Ulsters Taniste consider granting EIIR an audience. Perhaps HM will get around to visiting western Ireland next year. A province per year - almost! But it's worth bearing in mind that the politically scripted orthodox term "dissident" originally referred to Qumran based Jewish protestants(?) against the Second Temple Sanhedrin hierarchy (who crucified Jesus). Given that true republicanism is theological antithetical, is it prudent to infer they may be ideological protestants? We can chose to talk peace or war. After all, names CAN hurt, as much as sticks and stones can break bones.

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seanomelb | Jun 04, 2012, 08:15 PM EDT

I'm a republican that is I support the "cutting of the apron strings" which will happen shortly. As for Lord Melbourne I was not around in the 1850's to have a say.I'd Rather be an ex pat proud Irishman than a sniveling Bythebay monarchist living in Ireland.

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BillyFitz | Jun 04, 2012, 02:18 PM EDT

This "jubilee" dog & pony show is nothing more then a glorified Vegas act.

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Bythebay | Jun 04, 2012, 11:20 AM EDT

Seems like an idiot who doesn't even know he's a subject of Her Majesty in Australia -- seanomelbourne. Lives in a city named after Lord Melbourne, LOL.

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Bythebay | Jun 04, 2012, 11:16 AM EDT

NYCsheridan, can't handle the fact Sinn Fein will be meeting their Queen, Martin is being paid by her. LOL, their 30 years of terrorism probably supported by you went nowhere except death and destruction. Your world of Brits Out ended in 1922 but you still haven't copped onto it. Thick you are, like McGuinness who's being paid by the British Government.

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NYCsheridan | Jun 03, 2012, 08:39 AM EDT

Bythebay the sad old impotent antique can't handle the Queen meeting with Sinn Fein. LOL,, see it for what it is, ya cretin. The end of your world as you know it.

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clevelander | Jun 03, 2012, 07:20 AM EDT

She can stuff her jubilee I'll celebrate her funeral.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 02, 2012, 06:45 PM EDT

Seems like another idiot has left the orange village 6countybrit would make a good foil for Bythebay.

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Bythebay | Jun 02, 2012, 06:26 PM EDT

The Deputy First Minister McGuinness might meet his Queen. He has yet to be told by his party if he's permitted to do so. So much for the myth of his power but then Sinn Fein lives on myth. Important people already met the Queen at a special State dinner in Dublin Castle last year.

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Rebelforce | Jun 02, 2012, 05:50 PM EDT

I don't know whether or not Joint First Minister of the northern Irish power-sharing assembly Martin McGuiness will ultimately decide to meet the queen of England, but we can safely assume that Blythebay and 6countybrit won't be allowed anywhere near her.

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6countybrit | Jun 02, 2012, 04:39 PM EDT

I hope someone is going to be on hand with a hankerchief to wipe the blood of the Queens hand the amount that has been spilt by Gerry and Martin. Honestly they shoud start with an apology to the working class Catholic people of the north for their actions in dragging them through hell for the last 40 years! THIS VISIT MORE THAN CEMENTS THE 6 COUNTIES AS A BRITISH STATE SO GET IT RIGHT UP YE. Toichfiah ar NEVER!!!!

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Bythebay | Jun 02, 2012, 04:32 PM EDT

Queen Elizabeth II will be welcomed in Northern Ireland UK, there's no change in its affiliation with the United Kingdom, she is still the Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. And boasts by those who tried to change that for 30 years are very obviously without merit. They lost!!

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aloistmartin | Jun 02, 2012, 04:26 PM EDT

And would Dublin call for The Marines to enforce her new " Global Lovefest" Austerity Treaty ? Democracy, or Indentured Servitude ? Down with the Bipartisan Bourgeois Aristocracy ! Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams for a United Irish Republic !

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