A Royal Event?

From the BBC: 

"Easter Rising centenary: Royal Family and UK government to get invite"

Representatives of the Royal Family, UK government and unionism will be invited to Irish ceremonies marking the Easter Rising centenary in three years' time. The 1916 event saw rebels take over a number of buildings in Dublin as part of an uprising against British rule.  British troops put down the rebellion and many ringleaders were executed. Announcing the invite, the Irish foreign minister urged nationalist and unionist communities to honour history without antagonising their neighbours. Eamon Gilmore, who is also the Republic of Ireland's deputy prime minister (Tánaiste) made the remarks in a speech to the British Irish Association in Cambridge on Saturday. During his address, he criticised a recent republican parade in County Tyrone and said he was "concerned at the way in which the past is exercising a corrosive effect on political life and on community relations" in Northern Ireland.  Mr Gilmore said people have "a responsibility to prepare and carry out our commemorations in a way that gives no offence and is mindful of the sensitivities of all citizens".

"I don't underestimate the challenges this will involve but I know they are surmountable, especially if we take our lead from the gracious and mutual respect shown by Queen Elizabeth and President McAleese in Dublin two years ago," the tánaiste added. In May 2011, the Queen made her first visit to the Republic of Ireland, during which she laid a wreath at Dublin's Garden of Remembrance, dedicated to those who fought for Irish freedom. The four-day state visit, hosted by the then Irish President Mary McAleese, was hailed as a diplomatic triumph that improved Anglo-Irish relations.

Mr Gilmore told the British Irish Association: "If we are true to the lead that they showed, then I would hope that we can host representatives of the Royal Family and the British government, along with the leaders of unionism, in Dublin in three years' time in remembering the Easter Rising.

The foreign minister added that during his trip to Belfast last week, he met community leaders working in sectarian interface area who were "under extreme pressure after a full year of almost continuous tensions". Mr Gilmore said the message he got from the people he spoke to was that they "fear a return of sectarian violence" and the loss of progress that had been gained in the 15 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.   Police in Northern Ireland have come under pressure, and sometimes under physical attack, during a number of contentious parades this year, and at street protests linked to the dispute over the flying of the union flag at Belfast City Hall. However, Mr Gilmore told the British Irish Association that he remained "hopeful" that problems could be resolved, with support from the British and Irish governments, the US administration and European peace funding.

^ It seems fitting that Queen Elizabeth 2nd should be invited and attend these ceremonies (especially after her historic visit to Ireland two years ago.)  The Queen has  been in the US (for the 200th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence from the UK in 1976) and so I see no difference in her going, in two years, back to Ireland. Of course there is still tension between Ireland and the UK because of Northern Ireland and it seems the violence there is back - I noticed the un-easiness when I was there in 2010 and have written about the constant attacks. Despite what happens in Northern Ireland I hope the UK and Ireland can mend their strained relations. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24000517