QUEEN'S NORTH VISIT:THE IRELAND rugby team meeting Queen Elizabeth illustrated that Irish rugby was "everybody's game" and that the Grand Slam was a victory to be celebrated throughout the island, manager Declan Kidney said at Hillsborough Castle yesterday evening.
Queen Elizabeth also met President Mary McAleese during an evening of celebration at the castle and while there was no reference to the British monarch making a trip to the Republic, there was general political consensus that such an official visit was now a significant step closer.
The President and Queen Elizabeth held private talks in the castle where they discussed “the vastly improved political landscape in recent years”, according to a reliable source.
Co-operation Ireland board member and former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said a visit was unlikely this year but should be possible after policing and justice is devolved to the Northern Executive, which is expected in the autumn.
“That will remove a big obstacle to looking at the visit,” he said.
Kidney and 13 of the Irish squad were at Hillsborough Castle for a varied evening of celebration which also included a Co-operation Ireland reception which President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth attended. The queen had a separate meeting with DUP First Minister Peter Robinson.
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness did not attend, triggering a complaint from SDLP Minister Margaret Ritchie that he had “snubbed” the rugby team.
Mr Kidney said it was a wonderful occasion that helped demonstrate that rugby was a “32-county game”.
“This is everybody’s game and everybody’s victory and being here is just part of all that,” he added.
Before introductions were made a protocol official advised that players could address Queen Elizabeth as either “your Majesty” or “Ma’am” and Prince Philip as either the “Duke of Edinburgh” or “Sir”. But as soon as captain Brian O’Driscoll introduced the queen to one line of players and Ulsterman Rory Best introduced Prince Philip to the second line the formalities generally were dispensed with.
Gordon D’Arcy at least made an effort by replacing a flip-flop he was wearing on an injured foot with a more appropriate black leather shoe before the queen made her entrance.
Tom Court held the Triple Crown plate and Stephen Ferris held the Grand Slam trophy. “We had that a few years ago,” said O’Driscoll to the queen, referring to the plate. “But that’s the real one”, he added, pointing to the silver cup.
O’Gara chatted away to the queen in relaxed fashion with his hands in his pockets, remarking that he had met her grandson William on two previous Lions tours and that he found him “a lovely young man”.
“He seems to be quite a rugby fan,” added O’Driscoll, who, while sporting his own black eye, also remarked how O’Gara’s shiner was sustained during the “rough and tumble” of the Leinster v Munster combat in Croker.
Photographers were disappointed that they couldn’t capture a “Little and Large” snap of the queen and Paul O’Connell. Sadly a bad back from Saturday’s encounter forced him to withdraw from the event.
The other players present were Peter Stringer, Rob Kearney, Donncha O’Callaghan, Jamie Heaslip, Mick O’Driscoll, Paddy Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Tom Court and Denis Leamy.
