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October 25, 2007

IT’S a given that the ultimate member of the British monarchy, the Queen herself, will make her first visit to Ireland. The question is, when will that historic occasion take place? The Irish PM, Bertie Ahern, was asked his thoughts on the matter, and while be believes that Queen Elizabeth will eventually make the short hop over the Irish Sea, chances are it will be later rather than sooner.

“We have had a number of visits from members of the royal family in recent years. It is a fact, I think, that the Queen would like to come here,” Ahern said.

“As things move on in Northern Ireland, and we make some further progress, I think that will happen too. But it is not imminent.”

Her son and heir Prince Charles caused quite a stir when he made his first visit to Dublin in 1995. All the Windsors, though, have touched down in Northern Ireland, including the Queen herself on several occasions.

Meanwhile, it’s been rumored that Pope Benedict has Northern Ireland on his itinerary as well, but Ahern said he was unaware of such plans.

Speculation increased last week after the announcement by the Vatican that Irish Archbishop Sean Brady will be a cardinal. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin called the appointment “a sign of the interest of Benedict XVI to come to Northern Ireland, if not in the immediate future.”

“Such a visit, alongside one of Queen Elizabeth to Dublin, would have the symbolic meaning of ending an era of our history and opening to something new, north and south,” he added.

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