A few years ago, I would have been against any such visit by the British monarch to Ireland - North or South.
I think the Good Friday Agreement has changed everything in this regard. As Noel has said, you cannot expect the unionists and nationalists there to make all sorts of concessions and accommodations while leaving poeple down South people to trot out a litany of old arguments regarding such a visit.
Sinn Fein or its supporters cannot seriously argue against Elizabeth Windsor coming to Ireland when its own members are ministers in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
However, while she's entited, like any other such head of state, to visit Ireland by virtue of the two countries having diplomatic relations, so too have the population the right to protest and demonstrate against this, just as they did when US presidents Reagan or Bush came to Ireland.
Like it or not, Elizabeth Windsor is commander-in-chief of an army that has "unlawfully" killed many Irish citizens.
The queen's role is symbolic, yes. But so too would any demonstrations against her be. Symbolic protests against past controvertial actions of the British army, but also against the fact that this army is involved in the invastions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Yes, the Irish president is also the commander in chief of an army, but this army has not a) been involved in gunning down British citizens on their own streets or b) bombing civilians in Iraq or Afghanistan.
I would welcome the visit. It would present an ideal opportunity for some to apologise/express regret to her husband for the murder of his Uncle in Sligo over thirty years ago.
True, although it's worth pointing out that a man served a 19-year sentence for his murder. Of course, the she could reciprocate any such apology with her own, given the fact that soliders wearing her insignia have done plenty of killing in Northern Ireland themselves, but few, if any, have served even a few months in jail for it.
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