Queen Elizabeth's visit confirmed (to Ireland)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: Irish Times

The Government has announced Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has accepted an invitation from President Mary McAleese to visit the Republic later this year.

While the dates of the visit and the programme have yet to be announced by Áras an Uachtaráin and Buckingham Palace, it is expected to take place over three days in May.

In a brief statement, the Government said it welcomes the acceptance of the invitation. “The visit will mark a further improvement in the very good relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom.”

snip

The queen will be accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh on the visit, the first to the Republic by a reigning British monarch for more than 100 years

Read more: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0304/breaking54.html

[LuvNewcastle]

1. This is odd.

I'll be curious to see what this "major" speech is about. Maybe the UK is about to give N. Ireland to the Republic of Ireland?

[DavidDvorkin]

2. That would foolhardy

The UK's plan seems to be to wait until Catholics outnumber Protestants in NI, then hold a referendum about NI's future.

[zeemike]

3. Well that would be a biggie.

Probably to much of one though sense it plays so much a part of the politics of the UK.
Perhaps this thread will attract an Irish man or woman to tell us how they feel.

[Doc Martin]

6. This Irish Man is Ticked

[zeemike]

9. Is that ticked as in tickle or ticked as in ticked off?

I just assumed that the rest of Ireland would love their northern part back.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. Maybe she will apologize for Britain's genocidal rule of Ireland in the past.

n/t

[Doc Martin]

7. Or, for the Empire's role in The Hunger

[Journeyman]

5. Ah, for the heady days when Bonnie Prince Charlie would ride by with his blushing bride, Diana. . .

and we Irish would line the streets and welcome them with a hearty cheer:

"Up Chuck, and Di! Up Chuck, and Di!"

[BuddhaGirl]

8. ROFL!!

:rofl:

[JNelson6563]

10. lol

good one :toast: