Queen's conciliatory message and use of Irish draws widespread praise from many quarters

REACTION TO SPEECH: THE TONE and content of Queen Elizabeth’s speech in Dublin Castle this week has been widely welcomed, with…

REACTION TO SPEECH:THE TONE and content of Queen Elizabeth's speech in Dublin Castle this week has been widely welcomed, with her use of the Irish language in the introduction drawing praise from many quarters.

President Mary McAleese mouthed the word “wow” in appreciation of the unexpected gesture at the State dinner in the Queen’s honour on Wednesday night.

Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil representatives yesterday gave a positive response to the long-awaited speech, while the reaction from Sinn Féin was mixed.

Peter Sheridan, chief executive of the peace-building charity Co-Operation Ireland, which was referenced by the Queen in her speech, said: “Somehow when you focus on the future that the Queen and the President pointed to, the dark, horrible past takes on a new perspective.”

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Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh, who chairs his party’s Border Forum and represents Donegal NorthEast stressed the significance of the Queen’s decision to greet Mrs McAleese and guests in Irish.

“For me, her usage of an Gaeilge – ‘A Uachtaráin agus a chairde’ – and the wonderful tribute that she paid in her speech to our President expressed Britain’s respect for our country and our people. That was very significant,” Mr McHugh said.

He described the Queen’s words as “massively momentous” in particular for Irish people living in Britain.

“I know from a text message that I received last night from an Irishman living in London that Irish people over there are standing a wee bit taller because of her visit and her speech.”

Mr McHugh said the speech challenged him as a politician to drive an agenda for renewed collaboration between Ireland and Britain.

Picking up on the Queen’s comment that people must bow to the past but not be bound by it, Mr McHugh concluded.

“Ireland and Britain have been divided for centuries by a common history; politicians must now create space for people to progressively share that history in the interests of pluralism and grow,” said.

Labour Dublin Mid West TD Robert Dowds said the Queen had shown respect for all traditions in Ireland in her speech.

“I think it was an appropriate speech for the occasion. She rose to the occasion. The fact that she started speaking in Irish took a lot of people by surprise and people were touched by that.”

Mr Dowds acknowledged that some would have liked the Queen to be more explicit in her remarks, but he believed she had accepted many wrongs were done in the past.

If people could work positively together it could benefit everyone in both Britain and Ireland, he said.

“I feel she hit all the right notes. I know some people would have liked her to be more straight-forwardly political but I gather the British monarch doesn’t do that.”

Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary said the Queen had put into words the poignant and significant images and events that had marked her visit.

Mr Calleary said the Queen appeared relaxed. “Along with the rest of the country I was taken by the Irish and fact that she put our differences on the table – she didn’t hide away from it.

“The fact she could be so frank and open reflects how far we’ve come,” he said.

Mr Calleary said the Queen’s remarks reflected the strong and mature relationship between the two countries.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said he believed the Queen’s expression of sincere sympathy for those who had suffered as a consequence of our troubled past was genuine. However, he said that the import of her remarks would be judged in terms of the actions of the British government in the time ahead.

“Queen Elizabeth’s acknowledgment that the relationship between Britain and Ireland has not been entirely benign is a gross understatement.

“This will be forgiven if the future policy of her government is about building an entirely new future based on genuine equality, and mutual respect,” Mr Adams said.

He said “legacy issues” needed to be dealt with in a forthright manner by the British government, which Mr Adams also said must play a full role in encouraging “an end to division in Ireland and the unity of our people and our country”.

“I believe that her expression of sincere sympathy for those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past is genuine.”

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan is Features Editor of The Irish Times