Protests Increasing As Royal Visitors Leave

The first day of the Queen's historic visit to Ireland has seen both an attempt to transport a pipe bomb into Dublin and a hoax alert and, most recently, a number of protests taking place in parts of Dublin.

As the royal visitors prepared to leave the Áras an Uachtaráin - the Irish President's home - a crowd has been attempting to breach police lines and have since moved back to the top of the capital's Frederick Street with police horses now deployed behind the crowd barriers in case of an escalation.

While some have broken through police ranks, the Irish police 'have control' and no injuries have been reported although it is understood a firework has been thrown at gardaí.

Earlier, the Queen's Fàilte - or Irish welcome - saw her shake hands with Irish President, Mary McAleese at the front of her official Dublin residence before moving inside to meet the Taoiseach Enda Kenny as both the Irish and Union flags flew side by side at the gates to the building, where both countries' national anthems were played.

A 21-gun salute and an Air Corps flypast also greeted the Queen's arrival.

UTV's veteran reporter Paul Clark is in Dublin - and he said officials will be breathing a sigh of relief as so far the Queen's visit has been "going like clockwork".

The occasion has been mostly welcomed by those in the city, Paul added, but there are also some who aren't in favour as, despite this warm, official welcome for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, over 60 supporters of republican party, éirígí held a demonstration earlier at Dublin's O'Connell Street, before voluntarily leaving for Henry Street for a wreath-laying ceremony at Moore Street.

This afternoon, the Queen will carry out one of the most significant engagements of the trip - a visit to the Garden of Remembrance - where she will lay a wreath at the memorial, which commemorates those who died in pursuit of Irish freedom during the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule.

This is effectively 'sacrilege' for hard-line Irish republicans who have rejected any notion of an Irish Fàilte for the royal guests and who have angrily rejected this most symbolic act of partnership between the two countries.

An éirígi Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan said the alternative wreath laying ceremony was at the final 'headquarters' of the 1916 rising volunteers.

Cllr Minihan said: "No element of this week's visit by the British Head of State has caused as much outrage as her planned visit to the Garden of Remembrance.

"The monument is dedicated to all of those who have died in the struggle for Irish freedom. In other words, the garden is dedicated to those who have been killed by Britain - the same Britain that continues to occupy the Six Counties and the same Britain of which Windsor is the head of state," she fumed.

Elsewhere, Republican Sinn Fein members have marched from Parnell Street to place a picket at the junction of Frederick Street North and Dorset Street, as close as possible to the Garden of Remembrance after the Queen travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin for a ceremonial welcome at lunchtime.

She also planted a tree to mark her visit and had lunch with President Mary McAleese and a variety of guests, including political representatives from Northern Ireland.

Among them was one of the DUP's most recently elected Stormont MLAs, Sammy Douglas, a well known community representative in party leader Peter Robinson's East Belfast constituency who was elected in this month's Assembly poll at the seventh count to the same constituency.

John Hume - a former SDLP stalwart - and David Trimble, who was Stormont First Minister at the time of the Good Friday agreement and who jointly shared a Nobel Peace Prize, were also among the guests.

The Queen's final public engagement today will be a visit to Trinity College.

As the week progresses, the Prime Minister, David Cameron will join the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh for part of their trip on Wednesday, while the Foreign Secretary, William Hague is following the usual practice of accompanying the royals throughout their visit.

Her majesty is also due to honour all Irish soldiers who fought in the British forces at the National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge and Croke Park stadium, both in Dublin.

The Queen is also to make a speech at a state dinner at Dublin Castle.

There are plans for the Queen and Prince Philip to visit the Irish National Stud in Co Kildare, as well as the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary and a technology park in Cork.

(BMcC/GK)