Madam, – I wish to thank President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin and through them the people of the Republic of Ireland for the hospitality they showed to the Queen and her husband, Prince Phillip. The warmth of the welcome made me proud to be Irish and in the manner in which the Queen responded, also proud to be British.
I was left with the distinct feeling that this was a friendship that had gone wrong and should have been repaired a considerable time ago. It reminded me of the time in the 1980s, when I was playing Rugby for Ireland: as our island was in danger of tearing itself apart through conflict, yet, as a Northern Unionist, all I ever experienced was friendship. I often reflected that it was a pity that that was not the dynamic at play in wider society.
As we look to the future, we should let the few days of the Queen’s visit act as a strong reminder that friendship works and that through it we can build strong and genuine relationships in Northern Ireland, on this island and between these islands and so ensure that our children never again have visited upon them the tragedy caused by the conflict of our past. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – After a historic week, coloured by historic and deeply symbolic speeches, your Editorial of May 21st stands as an eloquent, uplifting and excellent reminder of how a former enemy can become a trusted friend who actually confirms our national identity at a time of deep recession and national distress.
May this reawakening of our national pride drive us to become witnesses to hope for many other nations and peoples. Well done. God bless. – Yours, etc,
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A chara, – It was brilliant to see the Queen visit the National Stud in Co Kildare and journey through the mineshaft that is the Irish Horse Breeding Industry, to see at first hand that rich deep vein of treasured “bloodstock” and to meet the people who mine this treasure and bring to the surface the equestrian gems that are the marvel of the racing world. – Is mise,
Madam, – Never have I been more proud to be Irish than in these past few days.
From the very beginning of our welcome to Queen Elizabeth, the Air Corp guard of honour, the welcoming ceremony at the Áras, the Garden of Remembrance, Island Bridge, the National Stud, the State Dinner, the Concert at the Centre, the Rock of Cashel, the English Market and finally to our President who conducted the entire visit with such stately elegance . . . wow! Isn’t it ironic that it took the visit of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to bring this about? Ireland take a bow. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Guillaume de Villeneuve (May 20th) is perturbed at the burning of the Union Jack and the subsequent violence that accompanied Queen Elizabeth’s visit. If Mr Villeneuve had observed the scenes a little more closely, he would have seen that the numbskulls involved in the former action were incapable of even carrying out that simple deed successfully.
It’s somewhat embarrassing to recall that so-called Third World countries are able to burn flags with some panache while our imbeciles are shown worldwide failing miserably at such a straightforward task. Oh dear. An embarrassment of stupidity comes to mind. Mr Villeneuve need have no fears unless he wishes to employ some such nincompoops to organise a Halloween bonfire! – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The state visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has set our nation a new and earnest challenge – that of redefining our national identity. The centuries of oppression and struggle that permeates out music, poetry, literature and politics have now been fulfilled, but also rendered null and void – no longer can they be the narrative.
And no longer can we look to that deep-rooted legacy for a sense of future purpose. Queen Elizabeth came here, spoke to us in our tongue and acknowledged that legacy. Like a debater whose opponent concedes the argument; we are left perched on our historical pedestal, which we must now ease ourselves off and find new challenges, purpose and identity. One hopes that we are up to it. It goes deeper than economics, and far deeper than standard of living issues, which our ancestors knew only too well, but which dominate the mindset of our generation.
While we wondered whether the time was right for a visit by Queen Elizabeth for reconciliation; Her Majesty’s visit reveals that we were more than ready for that. But the question now is – are we ready for what comes next? – Yours, etc,
A chara, – We Irish wondered if this visit would ever come to fruition. I think to my grandparents of the old IRA and ponder on what their thoughts and views might be if they were here to witness another chapter in our history book for our future generations.
As I reflect on this historic visit, I meditate on the cover photograph of The Irish Times commemorative supplement (Queen Elizabeth in Ireland, May 21st), and pause to think of all those families and friends of the victims of the violence that raged across all communities North and South, and indeed Britain.
Today, let us cross the bridge together that our President began building almost 14 years ago as part of her presidential election promise, and while never forgetting our past, look with renewed hope to Ireland’s future, and that of her neighbour. – Is mise,
A chara, – As a British citizen living in Ireland, I would like to thank President McAleese, the Government, the public services and the people of Ireland for the generous welcome and hospitality shown to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II throughout her visit. – Is mise,
A chara – The visit of Queen Elizabeth is a very good step forward. Without a word spoken, that she came for four days rather than one is a significant statement. Also that she laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance. Significant too in that President Mary McAleese had experience of being burned out of home by “loyalists”.
The Queen spoke well in Dublin Castle. She tip-toed around matters in referring to the “complex” relationship between the two countries. Mary McAleese (with Northern directness?) went closer to the bone in referring to “colonisers and colonised”. Building on all that is positive in the visit, we can perhaps look further.
To describe the relationship simply as “complex” could imply that each country had an equal part in creating the difficulties. What if the Queen could have somehow said that the complex relationship began with the arrival in this country of the Normans in 1169 and that they were further complicated in the 16th century following the institution of the Anglican church? If she could put something like this into her own words, it could perhaps help to mellow those nationalists who did not welcome the visit, and perhaps even take the wind out of the sails of some “dissidents”.
We in Europe might then get to the point where we can ask candidly about a culture where followers of Jesus Christ in so many countries went out to colonise other lands and their peoples, subjugating and enslaving and even exterminating them. This culture is not confined, of course, to Christians, but for them it has particular relevance. This could lead to a more honest assessment of how the relationship between former colonisers and colonised may be addressed in our unequal world.
President Mary McAleese is a bridge-builder. In Latin, “Pontifex” – a Pontiff. Whatever colour she wears. – Is mise,
A chara, – On a point of principle, I declined to be searched during one of EIIR’s snailpaced cavalcades through the empty streets of Dublin during rush hour.
I was required to detour via Heuston Station instead of crossing Millennium Bridge. Can the Garda Commissioner provide statistics as to how many Kalashnikov’s, tons of semtex, and varied weapons of mass destruction were found secreted in the shopping bags of old-age pensioners to justify such draconian measures, despite the possibility of highly subjective abreactions by ideological hotheads. – Is mise,