Queen attends 'garden party'

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended an indoor garden party and concert at the Convention Centre in Dublin tonight on the third day of their State visit.

The royal couple’s final public engagement in the capital was hosted by the British embassy as a "return event" which the visiting country hosts during state visits.

The event, organised by Docklands entrepreneur Harry Crosbie with Riverdance founder John McColgan acting as artistic director, was designed to showcase the best in Irish music and culture.

It was attended by President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin McAleese together with some 2,000 guests drawn from the worlds of fashion, sport, business politics and entertainment.

In contrast to the formal ceremonies of the previous two days, the royals were treated to a festive occasion which included music from the Chieftains, Westlife, X-Factor contestant Mary Byrne, 1996 Eurovision Song Contest winner Eimear Quinn and the National Symphony Orchestra.

There was also a fashion show of established and up-and-coming British and Irish designers, including John Rocha, Louise Kennedy, Michael Leong and Victoria Beckham.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnula were also present, as were former taoisigh Bertie Ahern, John Bruton and Albert Reynolds, along with British foreign secretary William Hague and the British ambassador to Ireland, Julian King.

Mr Ahern arrived with his daughter, Georgina Ahern.

There was a decidedly eclectic mix of people at the event with one-time Formula One boss Eddie Jordan rubbing shoulders with businessman Denis O’Brien, theatre director Garry Hynes and writer Colm Tóibín.

Also attending were Jedward’s manager Louis Walsh, broadcasters Gráinne and Síle Seoige, film-maker Gerald Heffernan and magazine publisher Norah Casey.

Newly elected Senator and hospital consultant John Crown attended as did Independent TD Shane Ross.

The Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady, who recently attended the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in London’s Westminster Abbey, was also there alongside former president Mary Robinson and the chief executive of children’s charity Barnardos, Fergus Finlay.

From the world of sport, former world snooker champion Ken Doherty attended together with rugby star Keith Wood and Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin.

Guests at the event, which was compered by Gay Byrne, also head a specially commissioned fanfare composed in honour of the Queen by musician Brian Byrne.

Speaking before the event, John McColgan said: “When we were asked to do this, we thought we would put our best foot forward and try and put together a combination of Ireland’s best across the spectrum.”

Everything in the musical programme has been composed by Irish composers from U2 to Brendan Grahaiti and Seán Ó Riada, he said.

Earlier, Queen Elizabeth visited the National Stud in Co Kildare on the third day of her historic State visit.

Following the high-profile engagements of the last two days, the Queen had a more low-key itinerary today with just two public engagements.

Nevertheless, gardaí have advised the public to expect further delays across the capital to facilitate security surrounding the royal entourage, with a large number of roads closures and diversions in place.

As an ardent racing fan who has owned many champion horses, the Queen had expressed an interest in visiting the National Stud and its prized stallions in the preparations for her visit.

During a tour of the stud, the Queen met representatives of the Irish racing industry, including top trainers Jessica Harrington and Willie Mullins, and champion jockey Johnny Murtagh.

The stud’s most valuable sire, Invincible Spirit, whose first set of progeny set a world-record of 35 individual two-year-old winners, was paraded in front of the monarch.

The chairman of the board of Irish Racing Board, Chryss O'Reilly, thanked the Queen for visiting the stud and for her "gracious support for Irish racing". The Queen also unveiled a sculpture dedicated to the champion thoroughbred racehorse Sea The Stars, designed by artist Anthony Scott.

Minister for Health James Reilly and Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney were also in attendance.

Afterwards, the Queen left for a private lunch at Gilltown Stud near Kilcullen, Co Kildare, which is owned by the Aga Khan.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, today attended a reception at Farmleigh with members of Gaisce – the President’s award.

Last night, the Queen made a historic speech on Anglo-Irish relations at State dinner in her honour at Dublin Castle. She spoke of the painful legacy of history that affects Ireland and Britain, but said that while people should bow to the past, they should not be bound by it.

The Queen said it was impossible to ignore the weight of history. “Indeed so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history, its many layers and traditions, but also the importance of forbearance and conciliation; being able to bow to the past but not being bound by it.

“It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our two islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss. The events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been injured, or their families.”

The Queen extended her “sincere thoughts and deep sympathy” to all who had suffered as a consequence of the troubled past. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things we wish had been done differently or not at all, but it is also true that no one who looked into the future over the past centuries could have imagined the strength of the bonds that are now in place between the governments and the people of our two nations.”

Queen Elizabeth began her short speech in Irish saying: “A Uachtaráin agus a chairde,” which drew a round of applause from the guests.

She said she and her husband, Prince Philip, were delighted to be here to “experience at first hand Ireland’s world famous hospitality”. England and Ireland were so much more than just neighbours; they were firm friends and equal partners.

The Queen referred to the ceremony at Messines, in Belgium, in 1998, when she and President McAleese dedicated a tower to the memory of the Irish soldiers who died in the first World War. She also pointed to the successful establishment of a powersharing administration in Northern Ireland, and applauded the work of all those involved in the peace process.

“What were once hopes for the future have now come to pass,” she said.

The Queen was responding to a speech by President McAleese, who said the visit was the culmination of the success of the peace process. It was an acknowledgement that, although none of us can change the past, we can change the future, she said.

“It is only right that on this historic visit we should reflect on the difficult centuries which have brought us to this point. Inevitably where there are the colonisers and the colonised, the past is a repository of sources of bitter division,” Mrs McAleese said.

“The harsh facts cannot be altered, nor loss nor grief erased, but with time and generosity, interpretations and perspectives can soften and open up space for new accommodations."

There were 172 guests at the dinner, including figures from the worlds of politics, sport, the arts and religion. British prime minister David Cameron was there, as were Northern First Minister Peter Robinson and his wife, Iris, who had not been seen in public for more than a year, following a controversy over her private life.