Hague sings Cork praises around globe
That’s according to the acting British Ambassador to Ireland Andrew Staunton, who revealed that his foreign secretary William Hague had advised his colleagues in cabinet that Cork was one of the great places to visit.
Mr Staunton revealed last night that after Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the city on May 20 last year, which he described as the highlight of her trip to Ireland, he would not “rule out” that she might return to the country.
The ambassador said that over the last 30 years, the British Government had agonised over allowing the monarch to come to Ireland, primarily for security reasons.
Last night, however, at a civic reception in Cork to honour her visit to the English Market, he said Cork was the highlight of her trip.
The ambassador said that Mr Hague, who had accompanied the royal couple here, told his cabinet colleagues that: “If they wanted a good time (in a nice place), Cork was the place to be.”
It is also believed that Mr Hague imparted the glowing tribute to Cork to other ambassadors, not only in other European countries but as far away as the Middle East and the Far East.
Mr Staunton said the foreign secretary had described the Queen’s visit, and Cork in particular, as one of the most “effective examples”... of British diplomacy in years.
The ambassador elect described the Queen’s visit as “a resounding success” and revealed he had taken four members of the Queen’s household (senior Buckingham Palace officials) on a visit to Cork the previous October to view the city and prepare for the historic trip, the first by a British monarch to this country since it gained independence. He and the officials were bowled over by the city and in particular the market.
He is not the first ambassador to highlight the success of the Cork element of the visit. Then British ambassador to Ireland Julian King said the Queen’s tour of the English Market and the Grand Parade had been a particular highlight for the monarch herself.
Last night’s reception in City Hall was organised by Lord Mayor Cllr Terry Shannon to honour the English Market traders’ role in promoting their city.
The lord mayor said the traders had “worn the green jersey very well” and commended them for highlighting what the city had to offer.
