The friendship and understanding which have developed between Ireland and the United Kingdom over recent years will endure as the relationship between the two countries continues to evolve, predicted the Prince of Wales during his visit to Cork.
Speaking at a civic reception at Cork City Hall hosted by Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, Prince Charles acknowledged the two countries had "travelled a troubled road along which many wrongs have been done" but he looked forward to an ever-growing friendship and closeness.
Quoting from Cork poet and theologian Padraig Ó Tuama, whom he met when he visited the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland three years ago, Prince Charles said Ó Tuama's poem Shaking Hands makes reaching out an imperative of leadership.
“With reconciliation and understanding as our guide, we have found a new path to shared prosperity and security, and we are determined that we must never lose our way again,” he told an audience of 150 invited guests from various civic groups in the main auditorium of Cork City Hall.
“If I may say so, this is precisely why I have felt it of such importance that we should keep coming to Ireland – to demonstrate, in whatever small way we can, just how vital and valuable the ties between our countries are to us all,” he said.
First visit
Prince Charles spoke of how he and Camilla had visited Ireland for each of the last four years but it was their first visit to Cork and he was particularly grateful for the warm and friendly welcome they had received.
“We have heard so many marvellous things about Cork, not least from my own parents who so greatly enjoyed their visit to this city in 2011. In fact, when I told the Queen we were going to be visiting Cork, she said ‘You must go to the English Market. You will love it!’
“So, in retracing the Queen and Prince Philip’s steps this morning to the English Market, we were delighted to find that it was just as magical as they had described; that the stallholders were as welcoming and that their produce was as irresistible as the quality of the fishmongers’ jokes!”
Prince Charles had been introduced by Tánaiste Simon Coveney, who spoke of his pride at welcoming him and the Duchess of Cornwall to his home city before highlighting the close trading relationship that exists between Ireland and the UK.
“However our relationship is about far more than economics – it is a relationship that is deeply personal. There are currently over 350,000 Irish-born people living in the UK with as many as one in four claiming Irish roots and a similarly large number of British-born people living here.”
Symbolic ceremonies
Mr Coveney said he saw Ireland's relationship with the UK as a very positive one and visits by members of the royal family are an important part of that deepening relationship. He recalled how the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 2011 was often seen as a watershed in the relationship.
“Following the deeply symbolic ceremonies in Dublin, it was Queen Elizabeth’s trip to Cork – where she had the chance to meet the people, and experience the unique Cork wit and charm – that remains with so many of us as an example of the warmth that is felt between our two nations.
“I had the privilege of accompanying Queen Elizabeth on her walk through the English Market. The image of her laughing together with local fishmonger Pat O’Connell was broadcast across the world, and remains a symbol of the positivity engendered by that visit.”
