Students relish chance to sing for Queen while SF councillor facilitates a historical first on visit of historical firsts
SWEET HARMONIES from the Cashel Community School choir soared through the remains of a Gothic cathedral as Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary yesterday.
“May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be at your back,” the students sang to the monarch who, on the final day of this historic visit, looked relaxed and elegant in yet another crowd-pleasing shade of green.
The most visited heritage site in the country, said to originally be the seat of the Munster kings, provided a picture postcard and deeply atmospheric backdrop to this part of the royal itinerary.
Squawking birds flew through the nooks and crannies of the imposing cathedral. Patches of sky were visible from the mostly roofless structure, shifting from blue to grey and back to blue again.
Earlier, the changeable weather had cast doubt on whether the Queen would be arriving by air as planned but, in the end, the maroon-coloured royal helicopter touched down in a field close to the Rock at about 10.45am.
The Queen led her entourage on the brief walk across a grassy pocket of the Golden Vale near Hore Abbey and then travelled by car the short distance to the limestone outcrop known as the Rock where she was met by Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
She was shown a replica of a 12th century St Patrick’s Cross before being led in to the cathedral accompanied by Minister of State Alan Kelly and Dr Eugene Keane, from the Office of Public Works. Inside the cathedral Aighleann O’Shaughnessy, senior conservation architect, spent a few minutes in the south transept describing the architectural features and the ongoing conservation.
“She was such a warm and responsive personality, she was clearly very interested, they both were,” Ms O’Shaughnessy said afterwards. After being shown the restoration of ancient wall paintings, the royal couple stood for a few moments listening to the school choir.
The simple musical accompaniment to their song May The Road Rise to Meet Youby Lorie True came from two students on guitar and career guidance teacher Ciara O'Connor on violin. "We thought it was appropriate to have a Gaelic blessing on the day that she is leaving," said the choir's conductor John Murray as his students tried to contain their excitement at a royal command performance they only heard they were doing a week ago.
Killian Heffernan (17) said at first it was daunting singing in the Queen’s presence. “It was hard at first, but I eased into it. I was afraid to look her in the eye, just in case she caught me and I freezed up. But we were well prepared and it went really well in the end I think. I can’t believe I sang for the Queen,” he said.
Across from the cathedral in the medieval Hall of the Vicar’s Choral the couple continued their visit meeting Brian Hayes, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works. There was an explanation of the artefacts on display including St Patrick’s Crozier and the 9th century Cashel Bell.
Among the other invited guests was DUP MLA Arlene Foster, who wore a diamante brooch in the shape of a crown. Several of the guests got to chat with the Queen. Labour Senator Denis Landy asked the couple if they had bought any young horses on the trip and was told they had “looked closely” at what was on offer.
Strolling down the hill after the Queen had left for Cork, Fine Gael TD for North Tipperary Noel Coonan said that when he met her the Queen had asked him if this was part of his constituency. He told her that his area came up to the Rock and that it was often said he represented the “poorer end of the county”. This got a great laugh from the monarch, apparently. “Long may your sense of humour continue,” she remarked.
But it was Sinn Féin councillor and Lord Mayor of Cashel Michael Browne who created another first in a royal visit crammed with historical moments when he became the first member of his party to shake hands with the Queen.
Browne, who is seriously ill with cancer, said it was simply his civic duty and good manners to greet the monarch at the Rock of Cashel. “How can you not shake the hand of an 85-year-old woman who offers it to you?” he said. “I told her ‘welcome to Cashel, your majesty and I hope you enjoy your stay’.” She said: “Thank you very much.”