A Queen in Ireland - Visit will be a milestone to celebrate

THERE are some people in Ireland who will never be happy with the idea that we should extend an invitation to Queen Elizabeth — or any other British monarch — to visit our country.

This hard-line view is a minority position sustained by the cruel reality of our history and a reluctance to look to the future rather than back at that tragic, brutal but unchangeable past. Ireland, like so many countries, suffered subjugation at the hands of British imperialism but time always brings an opportunity for a society to invest in and accept a better tomorrow. Sometimes the price of that opportunity is accepting that great wrongs were done but that those responsible are long gone or, at the very least, no longer enjoy the power that facilitated their wrongdoing.

Another part of that price is recognising that the sins of generations long gone cannot be visited upon their successors. Especially if those successors recognise history’s painful truths and work to address that legacy.

This process is marked by many milestones, some terribly painful for all involved. One of these was reached last week when British Prime Minister David Cameron acknowledged, on behalf of his government and his country, that the Bloody Sunday massacre should never have taken place. He, to the great relief of a great number of Irish people especially those living in Derry, admitted that the killing were unjustified and that those murdered were totally innocent.

Mr Cameron’s acceptance of Lord Saville’s findings was so unequivocal that it has added momentum to the idea that paramilitaries of all hues might make a great contribution to strengthening the peace we all enjoy by acknowledging the crimes inflicted on neighbours.

Another once unimaginable milestone was reached just over three years ago when the English rugby team played at Croke Park. An event that was approached with trepidation proved to be cathartic and a wonderfully emotional success. The image of prop John Hayes, usually so stoical and calm, being almost overcome by the great significance of the event epitomised the great tensions and relief involved.

Just as Nationalist Ireland waited so very long for the Saville Report, hoping that it would recognise the truth in a way that was beyond the corrupt 1972 Widgery Report, Loyalists in Northern Ireland will watch how we respond to the Queen’s visit.

They are entitled to expect that we respect their head of state as we have seen them respect ours on so many occasions. Anything less would be wrong.

It is fair to say that the great majority of Irish people would welcome such a visit if only because the event would symbolise a strengthening of a relationship of equals. It is fair too, thankfully, to say that whole generations of young Irish people will wonder what the fuss is about.

Maybe it is time too for those who cannot extend a welcome to Queen Elizabeth to stop picking at the wounds of history. If they don’t they will never heal.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is right. There are no longer any obstacles to such a visit.