One of the most significant milestones of The Queen’s historic 70-year reign was her May 2011 State Visit to the Republic of Ireland.
From 17 to 20 May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, made a State Visit to Ireland. She was the first reigning monarch to visit Ireland since her grandfather, King George V, visited in 1911. Ireland became a republic in 1921, making Elizabeth the first British sovereign to visit after partition.
The royal party landed just outside of Dublin on the 17th and went to Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland, in Phoenix Park to meet the President, Mary McAleese, and her husband, Martin. They also visited the Garden of Remembrance, a memorial for those who lost their life for the cause of Irish independence, and saw the ninth-century Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin.
On the evening of 18 May, one of the most celebrated moments of the Visit took place. The Queen gave a speech at a state dinner held at Dublin Castle discussing the two countries’ difficult history, and the progress made in regards to the Northern Ireland peace process. She began her speech in Irish, causing President McAleese to say ‘Wow’. The speech was widely praised by all present and the media, including Sinn Féin members.
After spending most of 19 May in Dublin as well, the couple saw more of the country on their final day in Ireland. They visited the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, the ruins of a 12th century cathedral, as well as the English Market in Cork. The also visited Coolmore Stud, the largest horse-breeding operation in the world.
