The Queen is in Ireland

And it's Sky News' top story. This is a really big deal; the first visit to the Republic of Ireland ever by a member of the British monarchy (the last visit to the island of Ireland by a British monarch came before the establishment of the Free State in 1921).

According to polls, 81% of Irish people are in favour of the visit (including Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin). It's a historic affirmation of the (now-friendly) relations between Ireland and Britain, and I for one am somewhat touched by the occasion.

Thoughts?

edited 17th May '11 5:25:04 AM by DanEile

I'm certainly in favor of reconciliation between your two states. It's not something Americans understand, because most of it's too recent to go into history texts but happened too long and far ago to be part of the average conscience.

Still, it's a very happy occasion, and I hope it leads to some real easing of tension.

I ought to ask: Can we have a civil war and terrorist attacks?! :P

@Hungry Joe: The atmosphere here is currently very pleasant and welcoming for the most part. One or two peaceful protests taking place, but they're rather small and to be expected. I'd be interested to know if the event's receiving any coverage in the States.

@del diablo: Oh dear. I do hope that wasn't a Troubles joke? You're more than welcome to have a civil war, frankly I think we've had enough of all that.

edited 17th May '11 6:01:51 AM by DanEile

Some, but the flooding is getting most of the attention.

The Queen's visit didn't make my local paper, but my local paper fails to report important stuff that happens well, locally. So don't read too much into that.

It's all very exciting and reassuring, somehow. Like a confirmation that it's all going to have been worthwhile.

I think it demonstrates a successful conclusion to the Northern Ireland peace process. Yay!

And for those of us with only a cursory knowledge of the relationship between England and Ireland...?

800 years of war that ended in 1921. The Queen's visit is rustling some of the more uppity Republicans' jimmies because they see it as acknowledgement of England's rule over Northern Ireland.

edited 17th May '11 7:08:59 AM by SoberIrishman

Holy crap, she's about to lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance for those who died in the 1916 Rising. That's interesting, considering they rebelled against the British Crown.

Cue Unionist shitstorm.

Indeed. Take cover!

See here and here.

edited 17th May '11 7:18:08 AM by pagad

My money's on them saying she was pressured by the IRA. You?

That's an interesting one. I was thinking a stream of bullshit along the more traditional "PC government forces monarch to lay wreath; fails to accurately represent the British people" line.

edited 17th May '11 10:54:23 AM by DanEile

Since The Troubles have eased up a fair bit, and Brit/Irish relations are relatively friendly, it makes a whole lotta sense.

State visits are part of the normal diplomatic relations shtick.

edited 17th May '11 8:35:54 AM by SavageHeathen

And that's why this is rather important symbolically.

And according to The BBC Coverage, so is laying a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance.

edited 17th May '11 10:39:57 AM by Greenmantle

I'm not trying to cause trouble, but I don't want her here. I'm all in favour of peace between Ireland and the UK, but I don't see why she needs to visit for that to happen. I'm just seeing more problems cause of her visit, the bombs in London yesterday, and the bombs in Dublin today.

It's her family and her ancestors who caused the crap between our countries, so it's not like it's not wanting a Prime Minister to come. Also, she has no right to even be a head of state, she wasn't voted into it, she was born into it. So yeah, don't want her here.

In saying all that though, I don't want anyone to blow her up or do anything stupid. I really don't, let her come and go in peace. She doesn't need to pay for crimes done years and years ago. And I don't hate the English, either. I just hate some of the things England used to do in the past. So I'm not racist either, before anyone accuses me.

I'd also like to point out, to the person who said the fighting between Ireland and England stopped in the twenties, it didn't. The Troubles only ended very recently, and went on well after 1920.

But I think I'm just ranting cause I'm a bit sick of both the IRA and the government, going around saying what most Irish people feel about it. I don't want her here, but I don't want her dead either. So both groups can shut up and stop trying to put me into a box. I've mixed feelings about it, and I feel strongly about them.

Any one want to start a betting pool? I say improvised bomb that maims, but doesn't kill her.

Heh, just so you know if you hadn't said that you weren't racist, you wouldn't have sounded it in the least.

I'm not really understanding why you don't want a visit though, seems harmless enough. Yes, some groups have been motivated to attempt bombings, but if nobody is willing to take risks and move forward, won't the problems just sit and fester?

I of course know almost nothing about the particulars in this case, but in general ignoring problems with deep-seated sources like this won't make them go away.

Right, the Mandate of the Masses doesn't need to be delivered by a vote. In many cases it isn't.

edited 17th May '11 12:03:19 PM by HungryJoe

Monarchy is not democracy. She has a right to be the head of state, at least if you accept Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom as legal.

It seems to me a bit unfair to bar somebody from entering a country because of the actions of their family. But then, obviously we're not talking about a vacation here but a state visit. All the same, if she is the legal head of state of the UK, then in theory, surely there's nothing wrong with her visiting the neighbours?

edited 17th May '11 12:03:24 PM by BobbyG

I had to just make sure yous knew I wasn't racist, cause it's a bit of a sensitive topic, and I'm worried someone might get confused and think I hate the English instead of the queen. ;)

I don't want a visit because I'm scared of getting killed in a bomb or something. Sure, peace seems nice and all that, but it's not worth risking people's lives over, imo. And also, Ireland and England have a good relationship at the moment, we don't need to have the queen over and everything. Things are fine the way they are, we don't need to change things here. Up north, maybe, idk, I'm from Dublin, but not here.

Legal doesn't equal right in my opinion.So yeah, she's the head of state and all that, but I don't think that's fair. Why should she be thought of as any better than you or me just because of who her parents are???

It seems to me a bit unfair to bar somebody from entering a country because of the actions of their family. But then, obviously we're not talking about a vacation here but a state visit. All the same, if she is the legal head of state, then in theory, surely there's nothing wrong with her visiting?

She can come if she wants, she can come have a holiday, as ridiculous as that sounds. But a state visit is a bit different. It's hard to explain exactly why I don't want her here, I can't properly explain it all in words. I just know it doesn't feel right giving her a big welcome and celebrating her arrival, it just feels very wrong. Maybe I'll feel different in a few years, but not right now.

I kind of feel that to prohibit her from making state visits would imply that the UK was hostile towards Ireland and vice versa, which isn't the case, in theory.

And I don't think she's "better" than anyone else just because she was born into a position of responsibility.

Maybe think of it terms of literal worth. That way Bill Gates is worth more than just about anybody.

And yes, things are good now, but that's no gurantee the situation won't flare up if something happens further down the line, a few lives lost in attack that makes one of these factions look like petty idiots who just like blowing people up might potentially cause violent means to become fully discredited and prevent far worse down the line.

It may hurt to let the pus out of a blister, but relieve pressure and prevents infection. (Okay, so it's not medically correct, but the metaphor stands).

And if we were Americans discussing race, you'd be digging a deeper hole for yourself. :P