17/05/2011

History Made As Queen Arrives In Dublin

The Queen has arrived in the Republic of Ireland and after some quick handshakes, the official motorcade has already moved off.

State cars and about 30 Irish Army outriders are accompanying the cavalcade en route to Áras an Uachtaráin - the official residence of President of Ireland Mary McAleese after the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh flew into Baldonnel military airbase, outside Dublin, for their four-day visit.

The trip comes amid the Republic's biggest ever security operation especially so after The Irish army made safe a pipe bomb found on a passenger bus to Dublin on Monday.

A bomb threat to London on Sunday was investigated earlier.

The historic visit is on foot of an invitation from Ardoyne-born President Mary McAleese's invitation for the Queen to come to the Republic.

She will formally welcome her at the official home in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Irish president told state broadcaster RTE it was "an extraordinary moment in Irish history - a phenomenal sign and signal of the success of the peace process and absolutely the right moment for us to welcome onto Irish soil Her Majesty the Queen".

Mrs McAleese said the two countries were "forging a new future - a future very, very different from the past, on very different terms from the past - and I think the visit will send the message that we are, both jurisdictions, determined to make the future a much, much better place".

(BMcC/GK)

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