The Queen spoke Irish in speech at Dublin Castle during visit to Ireland in 2011
The 2011 visit to ireland was the first visit by a british monarch to ireland in over a century.
- 19:16, 8 SEP 2022
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The Queen has passed away at 96.
The UK monarch died surrounded by her family at Balmoral, her estate in the Scottish Highlands. She had reigned for 70 years.
In 2011, she and the Duke of Edinburgh made a four-day state visit to Ireland, during which she made a visit to Dublin Castle and gave a lengthy emotional speech.
READ NEXT: Queen dies at 96 surrounded by her family as UK monarch passes away after 70 years on throne
The most expensive security arrangements in the history of the State marked the arrival of the first British monarch in over a century.
She arrived in Ireland wearing a green suit and was presented with a bouquet of flowers by a young girl before making her way to the President’s residence in the Phoenix Park.
The Queen visited Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse, Irish War Memorial Garden, Islandbridge, Croke Park, National Stud Kildare, St Patrick's Rock, Cashel (Tour of St Patrick's Rock), and Cork.
Day two of the visit included a trip to Croke Park and a state dinner in Dublin Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II gave a speech at the State dinner, while former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese is seated to her right.
The Queen addresses the room and opens her speech, leaving the room in shock, 'A Uachtaráin, agus a chairde' which translates as 'President and friends', before going on to finish in English.
The crowd claps as the Queen speaks Irish, with Mary McAleese appearing shocked, and mouthing, “wow” several times.
In her speech, the monarch reflects on history and says: “Prince Phillip and I are delighted to be here to experience at first hand Ireland’s world famous hospitality.”
“Together we have much to celebrate, the ties between our people, Madame President speaking here in Dublin Castle, it is impossible to ignore the weight of history, as it was yesterday as you and I laid wreaths at the Garden of the remembrance.”
“Indeed so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history, it is a sad and regrettable reality that throughout history our islands have faced heartache, turbulence, and loss.”
The Queen added: “With the benefit of historical hindsight, we can all see things which we would wish would have been done differently, or not at all.”
At the time, McAleese reflected on the monarch's visit, and wrote in an Irish Times column: “The success against all the odds of the efforts made by peacemakers of all persuasions, including those who once saw violence as an option, we can see the phenomenal human capacity for change and for improving the human condition.”
She called the visit of Queen Elizabeth “happy and healing”.
The 2011 visit to Ireland was the first visit by a British monarch to Ireland in over a century.
Her grandfather George V was the last King to visit in 1911.
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