Queen ‘deeply moved’ by reception on Cork visit

THE Queen of England was “deeply moved” by the warm welcome she and her husband received in Cork.

In a letter to the Lord Mayor of Cork, Queen Elizabeth II asked that a special thanks be extended to the people of Cork for the welcome she received on Leeside during her historic state visit to Ireland.

In a break from protocol on the final day of her visit, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh shook hands with dozens of people who had lined the Grand Parade.

A letter of thanks from Buckingham Palace arrived at City Hall yesterday, in which the Queen described her visit to the English Market as a particularly “memorable occasion”.

“It was such a colourful and lively visit, as well as a wonderful opportunity for Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to meet members of the public,” wrote the Queen’s deputy private secretary, Edward Young.

“Please would you tell the people of Cork that the warmth of their welcome was deeply moving and greatly appreciated.”

Revealing receipt of the letter, Lord Mayor Cllr Michael O’Connell also thanked everyone, including gardaí, city council staff and English Market traders, who helped make the visit so successful.

The visit has sparked interest among tourists.

So far this month, searches on the Hotels.com website have risen by 69% for Dublin, 74% for Cork, 191% for Kildare and 80% for Tipperary compared with the year-ago period.

Falling hotel rates and cuts to the tourism industry VAT rate from 13.5% to 9% have also helped.