Sinn Fein In Royal Handshake

The Queen and Prince Philip have flown to rural Tipperary to visit Ireland's most visited tourist site, the historic Rock of Cashel.

On the final day of her State visit, the Queen has toured the attraction and also visited the 18th century English Market and the Tynedall Institute at University College Cork.

A Sinn Fein mayor also 'made history' by becoming the first member of his party to shake the hand of the Queen.

Despite Sinn Fein staging a peaceful rally in opposition to the visit by Queen Elizabeth II, the republican party's Michael Browne met Her Majesty as she toured the majestic Rock, an imposing ancient ruins perched on a hill on the outskirts of the Co Tipperary town.

Mr Browne, Mayor of Cashel, was one of several local dignitaries invited to the event to welcome the Queen and said it was his civic duty as the town's first citizen to make the gesture.

"I just shook hands with her," he said. "I just said to her 'welcome to Cashel Your Majesty and I hope you enjoy your stay'. No more, no less."

Shortly afterwards, a statement from the party said: "Sinn Fein's position on the visit of the English queen to Ireland is that it is premature and we are opposed to it and that its elected members should not attend any of the events related to it."

South Tipperary Sinn Fein spokesperson Muiris Ó Suilleabháin said: "Party members in Tipperary were surprised by Michael Browne's action, especially as he recently signed a statement against the English queen's visit to the Rock of Cashel."

Nevertheless, The Queen and Prince Philip were also treated to some harp playing and singing from schoolchildren, and signed the Cashel visitors' book.

She then undertook the final two events of her visit to the Republic of Ireland, which has been hailed almost universally as a huge success despite minor trouble in Dublin and a huge security operation being put in place.

Queen Elizabeth II - accompanied for the first three days by the Irish President, Mary McAleese (pictured here at a wreath laying ceremony at the Irish War Memorial Garden, Islandbridge earlier in the week) - received a very warm welcome throughout the trip, especially so in Cork today, where there was even a royal walkabout as The Queen went to the next destination - the English Market in Cork.

It was given its name in the 1840s by the Protestant upper classes who frequented it to distinguish from one used more by the city's Irish Catholic inhabitants.

Still in Cork, her final destination was the Tyndale Institute where she met students and professors from where she was taken to the regional airport to be flown back to London.

Last night's variety show at Dublin's National Convention Centre, - hosted by the British Embassy - saw the royal couple entertained by Irish folk band the Chieftains, Riverdance and X Factor's Mary Byrne as well as the Belfast Methodist College Choir.

Later, her smile was evidence of the relaxed nature of the trip as she went on to the stage where she met 'boy band' Westlife and won "the biggest cheer of the night" in her own right, according to the BBC coverage.

The whole visit has passed off with only a few minor scuffles between protesters and police with 12 people appearing in court in Dublin on Thursday night after Irish police recovered rockets, flares and fireworks.

The 11 men and one woman were arrested near the city's Connolly Station and it is alleged they were on their way to the Dublin Convention Centre where the concert was being held.

Even the Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams has responded with warmth, despite being the only Northern Ireland party to refuse to attend any of the royal events in Dublin.

While he said the relationship would "not be fully normalised while Ireland remained partitioned", he said the visit was "another page in the book" and added: "I was particularly taken by Queen Elizabeth's sincere expression of sympathy to all those who had suffered in the course of the conflict and I think that was very genuine."

Meanwhile, a reception for members of Gaisce - the Irish President's Award - which is similar to the UK's Duke Of Edinburgh Award scheme - was also held yesterday and attended by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at Farmleigh House.

Prince Philip addressed members of Gaisce and the Irish Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald and Dr Lawrence Crowley, Chairman of Gaisce .

Food Accolade

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Northern Ireland food companies were selected to supply this week's historic state banquet in Dublin Castle.

The NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated two local companies who were selected to supply the banquet held in the Queen's honour as part of her first official visit to the Republic of Ireland.

Hosted by President Mary McAleese and attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, First Minister Peter Robinson and Republic of Ireland Prime Minister Enda Kenny, ingredients were on the menu from Kettyle Irish Foods, based in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh - who supplied dry-aged ribeye beef for the main course, and artisan bakery Ditty’s, based in Castledawson, Co Londonderry, supplied its Traditional Irish Oatcakes for the cheeseboard.

Last night, DUP Executive Minister Arlene Foster said: "The state banquet at Dublin Castle provided a unique opportunity for two Northern Ireland food companies to showcase their premium products to highly prestigious and influential guests.

"This was a tremendous endorsement, not just of Kettyle and Ditty's, but of our local food sector and the high quality of the produce.

"I have no doubt that the presence of Northern Ireland products at the banquet will encourage even greater interest in, and opportunities, for this important industry," she said.

Kettyle Irish Foods, which is part of Linden Foods, is a major supplier of dry-aged beef to leading hotels, restaurants and major retailers across the UK and Ireland. It has the only purpose built dry-aging facility in Europe.

Ditty's Home Bakery, which was established in 1963, has won multiple awards for its broad range of speciality biscuits, pastries, breads and savoury foods.

(BMcC/GK)