Queen's visit to Cork a 'watershed moment of Anglo-Irish relations'

The queen and her late husband, Philip visited the English Market on the final day of her historic three-day state visit to Ireland in May 2011.

Queen Elizabeth II meeting Fish Monger Pat O'Connell at The English Market in Cork City on their State Visit to Ireland in 2011. Picture: MAXWELLS

For many, it’s the photograph that captured the mood of the historic royal visit, a watershed moment that went on to symbolise a maturing of Anglo-Irish relations.

For the quick-witted fishmonger from Cork who made Queen Elizabeth laugh out loud while visiting his stall in the city’s historic English Market, it’s a treasured moment which reflects all that is good about his native city and his beloved market.