Paul Hosford: Keir Starmer steers clear of controversy on Cork trip

British prime minister stayed on safe ground, highlighting his honeymoon in Ireland, his time spent pulling pints of Guinness — and his 'grá' for Declan Rice

British prime minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin taking part in a business roundtable at 1 Lapp’s Quay, Cork, ahead of the UK-Ireland summit in the city. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

When Keir Starmer welcomed then taoiseach Simon Harris as his first foreign visitor following the landslide which swept him to office in 2024, the focus was on a renewal of Anglo-Irish relations.

In Chequers, the country home of the British prime minister, the two sank pints of Guinness and committed to a new annual summit between both governments.

The outworking of that commitment landed in Cork on Thursday, in the shape of the British government’s Airbus A321neo and a garda presence with which the city is not overly familiar — think snipers on the roof of Connolly Hall, enough horses to rival Cheltenham, and boats patrolling Lapp’s Quay.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcoming British prime minister Keir Starmer at Cork Airport ahead of the UK-Ireland summit in the city. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Mr Starmer may have been thankful to his past self for his commitment to cross-sea relations as his sojourn to Ireland allows him to escape a roiling controversy at home around his appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the US.

If the Irish hacks who braved the elements on the runway at Cork Airport hoped to press the prime minister on matters domestic, the distance from his plane and the rumbling engines of both the jet and the waiting garda-led cavalcade put paid to that.

As the British jet — registration G-GBNI — neared Cork ahead of schedule, the windy conditions which had delayed a number of flights prompted a rethink on the direction of landing, but little could move the day’s events from their direction of travel as Taoiseach Micheál Martin, a short hop from his Turners Cross base, was on hand to warmly welcome Mr Starmer as he exited his plane alongside both countries’ respective ambassadors.

From there, the pair and their respective convoys sped to the city centre for a meeting with business representatives from the likes of O’Flynn, SSE, Eirgrid, ESB, Centrica, and Atlantic Bridge.

However, if Mr Starmer had hoped that his welcome to the city would be all positive — home of the English Market, after all — he did not count on a band of protesters who lined up along Anglesea St long before his arrival. 

Some carried Palestinian flags, others a variation of the Iranian flag which replaced the Islamic symbol with the country’s name. 

The handful of protesters made more noise than their number had any right to, as accusations of war crimes were levelled at the still-absent Mr Starmer.

Garda outriders beside the plane carrying Keir Starmer, ready to escort him to the events in Cork. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

In his speech at Cork’s City Hall, Mr Martin leaned on the historical ties between the city and Britain, a path well worn, before asking the prime minister’s England for a favour in the weekend’s rugby.

“From small family exporters in West Cork to the research labs of the Tyndall Institute, University College Cork, and Munster Technological University, collaboration with UK counterparts helps to drive innovation, jobs, and prosperity on both islands.

“And then there is sport — where rivalry exists alongside friendship, and passion runs deep. 

"I had the great pleasure of seeing this in action in Twickenham three weeks ago. And, of course, I wish England the best of luck this weekend, when I hope they can do their part to help us achieve a famous Six Nations victory.”

The relationship between Ireland and Britain is shaped by geography, history, family ties, trade, and a shared responsibility for peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland, Mr Martin added.

British prime minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin meeting young people from the Ireland-UK Youth Forum at 1 Lapp's Quay, Cork.   Picture: Brian Lawless/PA 

Mr Starmer, a much-publicised fan of this side of the Irish Sea, made much of his and his country’s links to Ireland, but avoided mention of one Cork man: Former adviser Morgan McSweeney. 

Mr McSweeney, originally from Macroom, faced intensifying calls from within the British Labour party to go after being blamed by many for pushing the appointment of his ally Mr Mandelson as ambassador to the US, despite knowing that his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein continued after the financier’s conviction for child sex offences.

Mr Starmer instead stayed on safe ground, highlighting his three-week honeymoon on this island, his time spent pulling pints of Guinness at an event and, in the one note of controversy, his “grá” for Declan Rice.

In the end, there was little enough to trouble the hard news pages as access and proximity to both men was, by design, tightly controlled.

For Irish media, such rigid formalities are a bit unfamiliar no matter how good the hospitality from the arms of the State.

With a potentially trying  few days ahead in Washington DC, Mr Martin will have been thankful that, on home turf, his first few hours with Mr Starmer were fairly free of controversy. It is not quite a dress rehearsal for Donald Trump, but it was what you might consider a decent run out.

Mr Starmer, on the other hand, may just welcome being away from London.

• Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor