I'm not sure if this is the right place for such a post/thread or subject but I do wanna share my thoughts with you about the events of the last 4 days and my own personal feelings about them.
We witnessed history being made in this country this week with the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The whole trip has been a resounding success, from start to finish. Ireland, as a country, and despite being mire in a deep recession, has shown a maturity and a determination beyond belief. A maturity to welcome the Head of the British Royal family with open arms, almost like a long lost relative. A determination not to let the thugs (all 200 of them - man you don't realise how stupid you look!) ruin a moment in time for this great country.
I have to say whilst I looked forward to the Royal visit, I was hesitant and worried. Worried that something might go wrong. Worried that we as a people might once again be betrayed by the men of violence (who have absolutely no mandate) - NOT IN MY NAME YOU SCUMBAGS - or any decent person I know for that matter.
I needn't have worried. The oft maligned Irish Garda were resolute and stood firm - they too have had enough of these idiots and, indeed, many of their members have given their life in the battle against rogue Republican Elements. I digress. I have already given the scum more time than I thought I would. They haven't gone away (you know) - but we're getting there.
I watched in amazement on Tuesday as the Queen touched down in Baldonnel, Co. Dublin. For the first time in her 86 years the lady was setting foot in the Republic of Ireland. We are led to believe over here that this was a trip she wanted to make for a very long time.
I am sure both the Queen and the Prince would agree that they treated like absolute royalty during their time here - pardon the pun (or is it a pun, they are royalty, afterall?).
I'm not going to bore you with the details of the entire trip but my own personal three highlights all took place on the second day of the vist, Wednesday.
This whole trip was laced with symbolism and there no more symbolic gesture than the Queen's visit to Croke Park in Dublin, hq of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Croke Park, perhaps one of the most iconic Stadia in Europe. Unfortunately Croke Park was once the scene of an indiscriminate attack by British Forces which resulted in the loss of life of 14 innocent people and went down in history as the Original Bloody Sunday. And yet here was the Queen of England, being welcome by both the President of Ireland and the President of the GAA, Christy Cooney. Remarkable stuff and a personal highlight for me.
Onto Island Bridge War memorial on on the outskirts of Dublin. This is where the Irish people who fought for Britain in the Great War are commemorated. A place that holds a particular interest for me as I have always worn a poppy to remember our war dead and have a great interest in the history of Irish men who fought for Britain. Those people deserve to be remembered, just as our original republican dead and there could have been no greater a tribute to their sacrifice than a visit from Queen Elizabeth II. I look forward to visiting Island Bridge next Rememberance Sunday.
The Queen and Prince Philip attended a state dinner held in her honour in Dublin Castle on Wednesday night. This was my personal highlight and held a particular resonance for me as it was in Dublin Castle two years ago that I stood in front of a disciplinary committee, wrongly accused of a misdameanur in work. I was aquitted that day and the Chairman of the Board told me and I qoute, 'You have been totally vindicated and you can go back to your workplace with your head held high'. And I did. As I walked through the Gates of Dublin Castle that day on my way back to the city centre I felt like the Guildford Four walking out of the Old Bailey and I burst into tears.
There was more tears. On Wednesday night I listened to Mary McAleese talk about the great links between Ireland and Britian, about Ireland's obsession with English football, about forging a relationship of equality, based on friendship on respect, not forgetting the sometime rocky road we have both endured over the centuries, in particular Ireland.
I then listened Queen Elizabeth utter the immortal words, 'Uachtaran ague a chairde (Irish for President and Friends) and that was it for me. I sobbed like a baby as the Queen made a quite remarkable speech about our shared history. Better scribes than me will do the speech more justice but I was witnessing history, alongside my girlfriend and daughter, in what was very real time. It was as if the shackles had been thrown off and we could all look forward to a bright new relationship. Despite feeling ill, I went to bed feeling very happy that night, especially as someone who always extends the hand of friendship to my British cousins.
Of course ordinary Irish people and British people have been friends and working together for a very long time but, for me, that was the Iceing on the Cake and I will remember if til the day I day.
The next two days saw the Queen visit various places of social interest and I'm sure she enjoyed her trip to the National Stud especially given her well known love of horses. She also visited the Guinness warehouse, The Rock of Cashel, Cork, amongst other places - and hey, get this, no gaffs from Philip!
Just one thing I should mention, I am no lover of the Conservative Party but I thought David Cameron and William Hague came across very well in any of the interviews I saw. Sometimes, I guess, you shouldn't always judge the book by its cover. Our own President, the aforementioned Mary McAleese shone like a beacon throughout as did our Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny and I rarely give politicians any praise but the way all concerned held themselves and conducted themselves was a credit to both Britain and Ireland.
The whole visit has been an absolutely tumultuous success and despite all this country's problems, has left my feeling very postitive and hopeful about the future. If the Queen can visit Croke Park, we can beat this recession.
God Save the Queen? Well, I'm happy with, as we say in these parts, God Bless the Queen.
Now she's gone and we can all get back to realising how fucked the country is. Nothing like a feelgood historic occasion to make everyone forget their woes eh?
I must check did they bury any bad news this week.
Very good post mate can tell you put alot of time into that and well done to you
The queen could've easily no botherd going over after all of the stuff was meant to be have been happening, such as a man burying himself under the ground
But it was definetly a good sign for the Queen going to ireland.
Casualcol good post mate, I agree its been a huge move forward. Most Royal visits pass under my radar but this one has been completely different. Historic. Hopefully things can continue moving forward. No-one should forget what went on and its good that places like Croke Park were included in the itinerary. Also that over here the events of that whole day were covered ie what happened in the morning as well. Onward and upwards, fingers crossed
As a Englishman married into a Irish family I showed a few of them your post , a older fella said it was one nicest things he had read for a long while then said " the past is the past we cannot do anything about it what's important is now & the future when we can"
[quote="Wwfc 67"]As a Englishman married into a Irish family I showed a few of them your post , a older fella said it was one nicest things he had read for a long while then said " the past is the past we cannot do anything about it what's important is now & the future when we can" [/quote]
Thanks very much my friend - pass my regards on to your family. And the best of luck tomorrow!
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Fri May 20, 2011 9:14 pm
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