The British are friends, but I wouldn’t invite them to the 1916 celebrations

ONE thing really jarred with me about the State visit of President Michael D Higgins to Britain. Actually, there were a couple of things, but one of them didn’t occur until the interviews, as part of the massive coverage of the visit. Let me explain.

First, I thought the State visit was powerful: powerful in its impact and symbolism, and powerful in its effects.

I wouldn’t agree with commentator Olivia O’Leary, when she said that this visit finally gave us a licence to like the British, because I’ve always liked the British, as many (I think a huge majority) Irish people do.