Research post to honour Princess Grace

PRINCE ALBERT of Monaco has revealed that an Irish university research post is to be established to commemorate his mother, the late Hollywood actress and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.

The prince made the announcement of the new Princess Grace Research Fellowship during a visit to Trinity College Dublin yesterday as part of his three-day state visit to Ireland.

Prince Albert said the research post, and an international conference on Ireland during World War I to be held in Monaco later this year, arose as a result of a private donation. The post-doctoral research fellowship, which is for one year, will continue on a bi-annual basis in different subject areas.

“I’m moved by this gesture of friendship which only confirms the wonderful, friendly, long-lasting historical links between Monaco and Ireland,” said Prince Albert.

“It is a testimony to both countries’ commitment to excellence in education,” he added.

During his tour of Trinity, the prince visited the university’s famous Long Room which houses the Book of Kells.

Outgoing TCD provost, John Hegarty, told the prince how he remembered as a 13-year-old schoolboy the visit of Princess Grace to Co Mayo half a century ago.

“I well remember the excitement that pervaded almost by osmosis across the whole population at the time,” recalled Dr Hegarty. “So it is a pleasure to welcome her son back to Ireland on the 50th anniversary of that first visit.”

Later, the prince and his Zimbabwe-born fiancee Charlene Wittstock were guests of honour at a civic reception in Dublin’s City Hall.

The city’s Lord Mayor, Gerry Breen, said it was fitting that the couple’s visit almost coincided with the 50th anniversary of the visit to Dublin’s Mansion House by the prince’s parents, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace in June 1961.

Among those attending the event were members of the prince’s extended family from Drimurla in Co Mayo and representatives of the government of Monaco.

The Lord Mayo said Ireland was very proud of its connection with Princess Grace whose grandfather, John Kelly had come from Co Mayo before emigrating to the US in 1869.

The royal visitor was presented by the Lord Mayor with a piece of 4,000-year-old Irish bog oak sculpted in the shape of a heron by designer, Tony Downey, while Ms Wittstock was presented with a teardrop ceramic dish by the designer, Michele Hannon.