SINN FÉIN President Mary Lou McDonald and Vice President Michelle O’Neill have met with Prince Charles in Ireland to ‘extend the hand of friendship’.
The private half-hour meeting took place in Cork on Thursday evening, during a visit to Munster by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
The heir to the British throne also met with opposition leader Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil during a separate meeting.
Prince Charles has met with Sinn Féin's leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill during a visit to the Republic of Ireland today https://t.co/eDsiYbvRjw pic.twitter.com/INHlJRrdsc
— Siobhán Fenton (@SiobhanFenton) June 14, 2018
Speaking afterwards, Deputy McDonald said that she wants to build a future for all people on the island of Ireland.
“Today’s meeting was an opportunity to extend the hand of friendship, not just to Prince Charles or to the British Royal family – whose efforts to promote reconciliation I want to acknowledge – but to those on our island who identify as British, and who are British,” said McDonald.
Build on 'courageous' work of McGuinness
"As I have stated previously, the Ireland I want to be part of building is a country where one can comfortably be Irish or British, both or neither.
“All identities and traditions on our island must be respected.
“This is about building on the courageous work of Martin McGuinness and others.
“The conflict in our country caused great suffering and pain.
“The past has fostered distrust on all sides of political discourse across the island.
'Better future for all'
“That is the reality, but in extending the hand of friendship we can help to build a better future for all. We are on an ongoing journey of building trust.
“The past may inform who we are, but it cannot define where we are going.
“Acknowledging the loss of victims and families on the basis of equality and respect for each other is essential.”
McDonald added that both she and O’Neill, leader of Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland, are committed to reconciliation.
She said that she wants to “extend the hand of friendship to our Unionist brothers and sisters this evening”.
Having spent two days in Northern Ireland, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in Cork on Thursday.
They will conclude their trip with a visit to Kerry on Friday.
See More: Mary Lou Mcdonald, Michelle O'neill, Sinn Féin
