The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, today welcomed Prince Charles, a member of the British royal family, to Galway.
The Minister said that the visit by Prince Charles and his second wife Camilla Parker Bowles, aka the Duchess of Cornwall, represents another important milestone in our relationship with Britain. Prince Charles was formerly married to the late Princess Diana, who died in a car crash, in Paris in 1997, following the breakdown of their marriage. Diana's death was the subject of considerable controversy, though no evidence has emerged to support the widely publicised conspiracy theory that foul play was involved.
“It was a great pleasure to welcome Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to Ireland on what is yet another historic milestone in our relationship with our British counterparts,” the Minister said. "As Minister for Arts, I am delighted that the Prince and the Duchess are being treated to a selection of Irish music, craft and natural heritage as part of their visit."
Minister Humphreys joined the Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party, Joan Burton TD, to officially welcome the Prince and the Duchess to Ireland, at a ceremony at NUI, Galway earlier today. While Prince Charles later visited The Burren, Minister Humphreys accompanied Camilla on a visit to the Druid Theatre in Galway, where the Duchess watched a performance of the opening scene of Richard II, before meeting the company's Artistic Director Garry Hynes and the Chairman of the Board, former Director General of RTÉ, Cathal Goan.
Among those who met and shook hands with the Prince in Galway was the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams.
“I told him in Irish and English I was glad he was back on the island of Ireland,” Adams said, after what has been described in the media as an historic meeting. "I was glad to see him here. I told him the visit could be built upon. He said he was glad to be back.”
Minister Humphries was also positive about the events of the day.
"As someone who has lived on the Border all of my life,” the Minister added, "I am very pleased to see the considerable progress we have made in terms of our relationship with Britain. This is of mutual benefit to both islands.
"The Royal visit is also an excellent opportunity to showcase our wonderful natural heritage and our rich culture to an international audience.”
The couple are scheduled to attend a private dinner with President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at Lough Cutra in Co Galway tonight.
Protesters from the Galway Anti-Monarchy Campaign Group gathered outside NUIG this morning. They were there to express their opposition to the visit on the basis of the British army's actions both in Ireland and internationally.