Queen Visits GAA HQ At Croke Park

The Queen has continued her historic Irish trip this afternoon by visiting Croke Park, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) headquarters in Dublin.

GAA President Christy Cooney and Irish President Mary McAleese, who is hosting the four-day royal visit, greeted Her Majesty at the main entrance.

Mr Christy Cooney said the royal visitor's presence "does honour to our Association" as a display of Irish set dancing was followed by a meeting with Mr Cooney and several GAA officials.

The GAA HQ is where British forces killed 14 people during a Gaelic football match just over 90 years ago, in November 1920.

It was during the War of Independence, and saw 13 spectators and one player killed when British forces opened fire at a match after IRA assassination squads had shot dead 14 suspected British intelligence agents in Dublin.

Earlier today, The Queen was at the Irish War Memorial to remember those who fought in the British forces in WWI in Islandbridge where she has laid a wreath.

The band played the British national anthem as Her Majesty arrived and placed a traditional poppy wreath, while President McAleese laid a laurel wreath and a minute's silence was held before a lone piper played.

Back in 1998, President McAleese and The Queen unveiled a tower on the site of the battle of Messines Ridge in Belgium in the memory of the Irish dead of World War I, and to inaugurate the Island of Ireland Peace Park.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson was among those to have been invited to the memorial event, along with UUP Leader Tom Elliott, the SDLP Leader, Margaret Ritchie and Alliance Leader David Ford. No Sinn Fein representatives were present.

Other guests were more diverse and included Catholic Cardinal Séan Brady and even the well known UDA leader from Belfast, Jackie McDonald.

The ceremony concluded with the Irish national anthem, Amhran na bhFiann (the Soldier's Song), played by the Army band.

The second day of the Queen's visit to Ireland has already taken her to the famous Guinness Storehouse at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin.

Her motorcade left the official residence of President of Ireland, Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin this morning for Her Majesty and Prince Philip to explore the Guinness Hop Store, a modern tourist facility that covers over seven floors and is surrounding by a glass atrium in the shape of a pint of Guinness.

The Royal couple (pictured here by Brian McCalden during last year's visit to Belfast) were then introduced to the Master Brewer who showed how to pour the 'Perfect Pint' of stout and enjoyed a presentation by the Guinness Company Archivist.

As part of her four-day visit to Ireland, she then visited the Dáil - Government Buildings - where she met with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and members of the Irish Government.

The Irish and Union flags were flying side by side from the building, parts of which have served as the seat of Irish government since 1922.

Dinner

Later this evening the Queen will attend a State dinner hosted by President Mary McAleese at Dublin Castle and again attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

It will be the first address by a British monarch since the formation of the Irish Republic and is being held in honour of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and hosted by President Mary McAleese and will be attended by Prime Minister David Cameron among others.

The Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson will also attend with his wife, the former politician, Iris Robinson, who will accompany him to the events.

The Queen will make her only public speech at the prestigious event and while she is likely to acknowledge past difficulties, is unlikely to 'apologise' for any such past tragedies.

This afternoon the British Prime Minister David Cameron also visited Government Buildings and meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

(BMcC/KMcA)