Queen Elizabeth II has made a historic trip to Croke Park in Dublin on the second day of her State visit.
The British monarch’s visit to the GAA headquarters, the scene of a massacre by British troops of 14 citizens in November 1920 during the War of Independence, is seen as the most controversial leg of her four-day itinerary and as another watershed moment in Anglo-Irish relations.
The visit to the stadium, a site steeped in symbolism for nationalists, was specially requested by the President Mary McAleese during the preparations for the royal visit, as a recognition of the GAA’s special status in Irish society.
As the royal party entered the venue, 34 children dressed in the GAA jerseys of each county, including the colours of New York and London clubs, lined the forecourt.
The Queen and Prince Philip, accompanied by the President and her husband, were greeted and escorted around the stadium by GAA president Christy Cooney and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan.
The Queen heard about the finer points of hurling and football in the stadium changing rooms where she met players from both codes. She was particularly interested in the shape of the hurley. She asked: “Is it like what they use in (when playing) shinty?” a hockey-like game associated with the Scottish highlands.
The Queen met several senior GAA officials, but a number of others stayed away in protest. Of the nine Ulster counties, just Down was represented.
Inside the stadium, on the Hogan Stand side, the royal pair watched a video on the big screen about the history of the GAA before being treated to a performance of traditional dancing and a selection of tunes by the Artane Band.
At the event, Mr Cooney said: “I was also very heartened by the utter and united determination of people and political leaders across the island, and across the whole community, to stand together against violence and hatred.”
Addressing the Queen, he added: “Your presence does honour to our association, to its special place in Irish life, and to its hundreds of thousands of members. Today will go down in the history of the GAA.”
After his speech, he presented the monarch with a specially-bound edition of The GAA: A People’s History, and Prince Philip with a hurley and sliotar.
Gardaí were keen to ensure the Croke Park engagement passed off without incident amid heightened concerns protest groups may attempt to disrupt the Queen’s visit.
Hundreds of uniformed and plain clothes gardaí manned the route taken by the royal motorcade to the stadium. The immediate vicinity of the stadium was also heavily policed while onlookers were kept at a distance from the proceedings. There were no reports of any incidents.
Yesterday, gardaí clashed with hundreds of protesters in Dublin city centre during the Queen’s visit to the Garden of Remembrance and Trinity College. There were 20 arrests, with some rioters forcibly handcuffed and removed after they resisted.
Earlier today, the Queen laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Islandbridge in another moving ceremony dedicated to healing divisions between the two countries.
Following on from yesterday’s Garden of Remembrance event, the British monarch and President Mary McAleese laid wreaths at the Islandbridge memorial in memory of the 49,400 Irish soldiers who perished in the first World War.
The event, which was attended by large number of Irish Army veterans, was requested by Buckingham Palace during the preparations for the Queen's four-day visit, and is understood to be particularly important to the Queen.
The Queen laid a poppy wreath at the memorial’s 'war stone' while the President laid a laurel wreath before both leaders observed a minute’s silence. Similar to yesterday’s event, both national anthems were played at the ceremony, emphasising a new era of unity between the countries.
Following the wreath-laying, the Queen and her husband Prince Philip were shown artist Harry Clarke’s illuminated manuscripts containing the names of all the soldiers commemorated at the memorial. The royal couple were also shown the Ginchy Cross, carved out of oak by Irish soldiers who took part in the infamous Battle of the Somme.
Among the guests were Northern Ireland First Minster Peter Robinson, Catholic Archbishop of Ireland Sean Brady and the head of the Church of Ireland Alan Harper. Others invited included UDA commander Jackie McDonald.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness declined an invitation to attend.
Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Robinson said the event "broke another taboo" in Anglo-Irish relations. However, Mr Robinson said the absence of any members of Sinn Féin represented a missed opportunity. “It would have been an excellent opportunity to show respect for traditions that have otherwise not been shown that respect in the past,” he said.
The royal entourage will this evening be joined by British prime minister David Cameron ahead of a State banquet in Dublin Castle. The black-tie event, at the symbolic former seat of British rule in Ireland, will be attended by 172 guests from all walks of public life.
At the start of the dinner, Mrs McAleese is due to make a short address concluding with a toast to the Queen.
The Queen will then make what is being billed as a “major” speech on relations between the two countries, seen as the diplomatic highlight of her four-day visit.
Mr Robinson's wife Iris will be attending tonight’s dinner, her first public engagement since the controversy surrounding her private life erupted in early last year.
The second day of the Queen's itinerary began this morning with a trip to the Guinness Storehouse at St James's Gate where the 85-year-old monarch was given a panoramic “windows” tour of the city in the brewery’s famous Gravity Bar, in the company of RTÉ broadcaster and Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy. She was also given a lesson in pouring the perfect pint.
The Queen then met Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Government Buildings in the company of several other members of the Cabinet, including Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore and Attorney General Máire Whelan.
Mr Kenny held a bi-lateral meeting with the Queen in his office after bringing the royal couple on a brief tour of the building. It was one of the last major building projects conducted under British rule in Ireland. The foundation stone for the building, which was originally used as a college of science, was laid by the Queen’s predecessor, King Edward VII in 1904.
Following her trip to Islandbridge, the Queen and Prince Philip had a private lunch at Farmleigh.
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