SINN FEIN HAS expressed ‘wariness’ about Queen Elizabeth’s upcoming Irish visit. The trip, expected in May, will be the first by a British monarch since the Queen’s grandfather George V in 1911.
Sinn Féin president and Louth TD Gerry Adams has said the visit will cause “offence” to many Irish citizens, “particularly victims of British rule and those with legacy issues in this state and in the North”.
While he said the party was “very conscious of the attitude of our unionist neighbours” and is “ in favour of the normalisation of relationships between Ireland and the UK”, the fact that Ireland is not united means the visit is “premature”.
He added: “President McAleese has invited the English monarch and Sinn Féin respects her right to do so. However, we believe this visit is premature and we expect our views to be respected also.”
Protests against the planned royal visit have already taken place. About 70 people attended a demonstration by socialist republican party Éirígí at British embassy in Dublin on Saturday 12 March.
The party has also called on republicans across the island of Ireland to strongly opposse the visit.
“This visit can and should be met by the angry voices of thousands of Irish citizens united in their opposition to everything that the British crown stands for,” said Éirígí cathaoirleach Brian Leeson.
But others welcomed the announcement, with Taoi-seach Enda Kenny predicting that the visit “would be very warmly received by the vast, vast majority of the Irish people - a declaration, a signature event, of the growing up of two countries and two peoples.”
Meanwhile, it is possible Queen Elizabeth could pay tribute to those Irish who fought British forces as visiting heads of states routinely place wreaths at the Garden of Remberance in Dublin city centre. The British monarch’s itinerary has not yet been released, however.
