The Queen was in town last week. This might not seem like a big deal, but this is the first time a British Monarch has been to Ireland in over 100 years. After the Easter rising, the war of independence, the civil war and the 'the troubles', the Republic of Ireland wasn't seen as the most welcoming place for the British monarch. Like a couple after a bad divorce, we had some history. But that was then, and this is now, and as we both learn to forgive the actions of our past we have reached the point were the Queen is welcomed by the vast majority of the Irish Public. Times in Ireland may not be good, but the Queen's visit is a reminder that some things have improved.
The most notable thing about the week (apart from the Garda Helicopters hovering over my City Centre flat all week) was the huge security operation mounted in Dublin, There were thousands of Gardaí on the streets.
;)
If you look carefully between the Gardaí, in the armoured Range Rover, it's the QueenWhen she left on Friday I expected things to return to normal. Boy was I wrong. When I landed at Dublin airport this Morning there were two US Air Force aircraft parked on a remote stand, a C-32 and a VC-25. These are the military designation for the US Air Force's VIP versions of Boeing's commerical 757 and 747 aircraft, but depending on who is on board these aircraft can also referred to by the name 'Air Force One'. President Obama was in town.
;)
Parked on a remote stand at Dublin Airport is Air Force OneI thought the Queen could screw up the traffic, but she is a rank amateur to VIP related traffic problems when compared to the US President. My Taxi driver had to abandon me on the wrong side of the River Liffey, there was simply no way he could get across the city. For the second time in a week I found myself trying to navigate through security barriers sealing off Dublin's centre. A combination of Gardaí, Secret service and tens of thousands of people waiting to see President Obama's public address had, quite simply, shut down the city.
I have been extremely fortunate that during my nine month assignment in Dublin I've been here for some historic moments. Ireland may never see another four days were monarchs and presidents vist, but it did happen, and I was here for it.