Queen in Ireland...

[steakbake]

Im by no means a Royalist, but i reckon Her Maj's trip to Ireland will do a lot to change perceptions on both sides.

Laying a wreath at the Irish national memorial was pretty incredible. Its just a shame they feel the need to keep the people at a 'safe' distance.

Some of the militants on both sides must be confused at how to react. Any opinions?

[Sir David Gray]

Hopefully it will help to "normalise" relations between the UK and Ireland. This visit is hugely significant and hugely symbolic and I hope it can allow both nations to put the past behind them and move on from the wrongs which have been committed from both sides.

A minority will never be content until the whole island of Ireland is under Irish rule but then if that happens, a minority on the other side of the coin will be unhappy.

However from what I've seen and heard, it would seem that the vast majority of Irish people are of the opinion that it's the right time for the Queen to come to Ireland and that they are happy for her to visit their country.

I would say that hopefully it might help to calm the situation up here in Scotland but the people who are causing the problems up here are the ones who are part of the violent minorities on both sides and I feel that it will take a lot more than the Queen making a four-day visit to Ireland before they renounce violence or move on from the past. I don't think it's just a coincidence that a lot of the people who were holding the protest in Dublin today were wearing Celtic tops, as were a lot of the people who attended the RIRA rally a few weeks ago in Londonderry when they were stating their opposition to the Queen's visit.

After almost 60 years as the monarch, it was wrong that she had visited a large proportion of the countries in the world on official state duties but had never been to our closest neighbour, so in that respect I'm glad that situation has now been resolved.

I'm also pleased that, despite the fact that there was a viable device uncovered yesterday, no serious incident occurred today, although I suppose there are three more days before she leaves.

[lapsedhibee]

Has Phil the Greek said anything about tattiemunchers yet? :dunno:

[steakbake]

Has Phil the Greek said anything about tattiemunchers yet? :dunno:

Still 3 days left for him to make a major gaffe which would undo the Anglo-Irish agreement.

From the pictures I have seen of him on the trip, he looks like he is trying to keep his mouth shut.

[tynesideirish]

Won't change the minds of anyone really. Everone will remain either Pro, Negative or indifferent to the visit.
I fully understand the hoohaa but if an ould granny can't visit somewhere her relatives used to own without a protest what's the world coming to? :rolleyes:

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Theyve not been the same since Freddie died!

[magpie1892]

Won't change the minds of anyone really. Everone will remain either Pro, Negative or indifferent to the visit.
I fully understand the hoohaa but if an ould granny can't visit somewhere her relatives used to own without a protest what's the world coming to? :rolleyes:

Not so. I was over for the football and I was speaking to a cabbie who self-described as 'a republican' and he said his stance had softened because the whole thing was going so well and had been well-handled. He thought it was 'good for business', and he's right, but his overall view had changed two days in...