Queen's Visit To Be 'Sprung On Ireland'

This spring could see the first ever visit by The Queen to the Republic of Ireland.

Discussions to set a date for the visit are underway, with the Irish Times saying that a three-day trip by Queen Elizabeth II (pictured here on a recent visit to NI by Brian McCalden) is anticipated in May this year.

"Discussions on the timing of the visit have been held repeatedly over recent months with the British Embassy in Dublin, British officials in London and, more recently, with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny," said one of the paper's journalists - although no official invitation has been extended.

The last serving British monarch to visit the Irish capital was George V in 1911 - before the Irish Republic gained independence from Britain.

Enda Kenny, the man tipped to be the new Taoiseach, said a royal trip was "overdue".

With more than two weeks to go before the Irish 25 February poll, he has 'stuck his neck out' and advanced his theory that it would be Fáilte Ireland for the British Queen: "Many members of her family have been frequent visitors to Ireland," he said.

"I actually think that this visit of the Queen 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," he said.

He's taking a political gamble as, the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams - who has quit his West Belfast seat at Westminster to contest the Irish poll in Louth - said he thinks "it's premature and too soon".

Reacting soon afterwards, the DUP MP for East Londonderry, Gregory Campbell said that regular visits by the Irish President were commonplace in Northern Ireland and commented: "Gerry Adams has informed the people of the Irish Republic that the forthcoming visit of HM Queen to that country is "premature and too soon".

"He has demonstrated the total lack of understanding of the concept of accepting people for what they are. He has moved considerably from the position he was in some 30 years ago but by this statement he has shown how much further he needs to travel on his political journey.

"The President of the Irish Republic can, and does, visit this country on a frequent basis and has done so for years yet when the Queen's first visit, which has been delayed for years, is finally about to occur he objects to it.

"Mr. Adams does not see the irony of him welcoming the Irish Republic's Head of State coming here regularly but objecting to the British Head of State going for the first time to the Republic.

"This is another gaffe to add to an already impressive lis," the DUP MP said.

Mary McAleese will end her second term of office as the Irish President in 2011 - and is well known for promoting cross-border and west-east relationships between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

She has also jointly hosted ceremonies of remembrance at World War I battlefield commemorations in France with The Queen, and has also met her in Northern Ireland during an official visit by Her Majesty.

It had been anticipated that The Queen might come to Ireland to join established ceremonies of remembrance for Irish soldiers in the 1914-18 'Great War', but this seems less likely now - as a spring visit becomes increasingly likely.

Just last week, the Queen's eldest son, Prince Charles, was in one of Belfast's best-known Roman Catholic chapels to view the architectural splendour of the refurbished church - and was warmly greeted by senior church clerics.

See: Royal Visitors Welcomed To Palace

See: Queen To 'Cross Boyne' For Republic Visit?

(BMcC/KMcA)