to wonder why I can't find a thread about the Irish President's State Visit to Britain?

[ThisLittlePiggyStayedHome]

Irish President Michael D. Higgins has been hosted by Queen Elizabeth for the past two days, and the news coverage here (in Ireland) is as extensive as it was when the British Queen made her official visit to Ireland in 2011. There were moving and impressive speeches made by both Michael D and the Queen, centred on reconciliation from the centuries of conflict between our two islands, acknowledgments of work still to be done in healing the pain inflicted by colonialism, and by terrorism on both sides, and warm words about the enormous contribution that Irish people (both emigrants and those of Irish descent) have made to British life. Particularly significant moments included President Higgins pausing to pay his respects at a memorial to Lord Mountbatten, Queen Elizabeth expressing her desire for the Royal Family to stand side by side with the Irish President in commemorating the 2016 centenary of the Easter Rising, and Martin McGuinness participating in a toast to the Queen in his capacity as Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Where I live in Ireland (not in the North), this has been the main topic of workplace / bus stop / school gates conversation, with everyone I’ve spoken to agreeing that it’s another incredible step forward and a welcome confidence-booster in the potential for lasting peace in Northern Ireland in particular.

Yet here on Mumsnet, which I tend to think of as my window into the workplace / bus stop / school gates conversation of Britain, I’ve seen no mention of the State Visit at all.

So I’m curious – do you think Irish people on the whole feel more in tune with or invested in Anglo-Irish relations and the situation in NI than people in Britain tend to? Or is there a lot of interest in the situation over there, but it just isn’t apparent by browsing MN for some reason?

Condolences or something wasn't it? But not an apology as that was the topic of discussion at the time.

I think the government has apologised for a couple of things, Bloody Sunday maybe.

I agree, Maryz, I have no respect for Sinn Fein's leadership and think their inability to be forthcoming and to apologise to their victims is disgraceful.

But I think that Michael D. Higgins is about as decent, articulate, intelligent and accomplished a man as any country could hope to be represented by. He's about as far from a bumbling twit as they come, ComposHat.

For everyone's information (and despite the frankly weird hostility of some of the replies), I didn't start the thread to have an argument. As I clearly said in the OP, most people I know think that this is a very positive and significant step for Anglo-Irish relations, and it seemed to me from the silence on MN that perhaps the feeling of significance was felt less strongly in Britain. So I asked.

x-post Maryz I believe it's not considered an apology though but the closest that will be given.

x-post again. Yeah they never say anything do they?

Ha ha we keep x-posting. I agree!!

I'm interested in a lot of things, but state visits don't rate very highly. About as trivial as who wore what at the Oscars. I expect they will have a nice time and get to meet lots of new people and have wonderful banquets, but I expect any real work will be done by people several levels down who didn't get invited.

I'm no shinner but M McG has apologised for some things. That's why he's allowed to sit with his head at the trough. the poor queen having to shake that weasel's paw.

composhat Michael D is absolutely not a bumbling twit. He's very astute and humane. He was the guy who did a huge amount to promote the arts in Ireland by pointing out that when you are in a recession, you need above all to invest in the imagination. He's a great bloke.

The Queen hasn't apologised, I wouldn't see that statement of hers as being much more of an apology than the things that Sinn Fein have said over the years about regretting the casualities on both sides etc etc. But the UK government's apology (through Cameron) for Bloody Sunday was a proper apology.

I googled and found that Sinn Fein as a party did issue these words in 2012: "It is, therefore, appropriate on the anniversary of [Bloody Friday in Belfast], that we address all of the deaths and injuries of non-combatants caused by us. We offer our sincere apologies and condolences to their families. There have been fatalities amongst combatants on all sides. We also acknowledge the grief and pain of their relatives." But that's not the same as a personal apology and a bit of humility from people who were directly involved, as McGuinness and no doubt Adams were.

I love Michael D. Thank god he got in over Sean Gallagher. At least we can thank Martin McG for that if nothing else

Hear hear, Nugget! And thanks for correctly interpreting and clarifying my intentions upthread :)

Ha! yes.

I was going to vote for David Norris until quite late in the campaign. His failure to grasp why people were so offended by his partner's 'past' was just not what Ireland needed in the wake of all the abuse. I like DN but I am really proud of Michael D Higgins. David Norris so intelligent he's living in his own head half the time, and sometimes in his own ass! he comments in the senate about 'the regina monologues' sealed my relief that we have Michael D Higgins for prez

I hadn't come across it before either, Maryz

Ah, interesting, on second reading it's "IRA offers apology" and published on the Sinn Fein page, but it's not Sinn Fein saying "yes we were the IRA and we're sorry." Small but important difference!

I thought I was going to have to move if Sean G had been elected. I did like DN but think Michael D was the best candidate by far.