QUEEN ELIZABETH has spoken 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.
Speaking at a State dinner in her honour at Dublin Castle last night, concluding the second day of her visit to the Republic, 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 acknowledgment that, while 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.
“Yesterday, Your Majesty, you visited our Garden of Remembrance and laid a wreath there in honour of the sacrifice and achievement of those who fought against Britain for Irish independence. Today at Islandbridge, just as we did at the Island of Ireland Peace Park at Messines in 1998, we commemorated together the thousands of Irishmen who gave their lives in British uniform in the Great War,” said the President.
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.
Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney and his wife, Marie, rugby player Brian O’Driscoll and his wife Amy Huberman also attended. Mr Cameron said the visit was “hugely successful and very significant”.
In a statement last night, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the import of the Queen’s remarks would be judged by the actions of her government. “I believe that her expression of sincere sympathy for those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past is genuine.”