THE Irish Government has revealed a “well-balanced” programme of events to entertain Prince Charles and his wife Camilla on their visit to Ireland this month.
Outlining the intended itinerary for the trip – which brings the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to the Emerald Isle from May 19-21 - Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan explained: "Following extensive preparatory work involving the British Embassy, Clarence House, my Department, the Gardaí and other partners, I believe a well-balanced and interesting programme has been developed which celebrates the strength of Irish-British relations today.”
On Tuesday, May 19 the two-day visit will begin with a stop at the National University of Ireland in Galway.
The Prince of Wales and his wife will then go on to visit environment and conservation projects in the region, stopping at both the Marine Institute in Oranmore and the Burren area – where they will “see first-hand its unique terrain, rare plantlife, biodiversity and archaeology” the government revealed today.
Following the day’s events, the royal visitors will enjoy a private dinner with President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina.
A second day of activities will bring Prince Charles and Camilla to Sligo - where a civic reception will be held, followed by a Peace and Reconciliation service at St Columba's Church in Drumcliffe, where they will also visit the grave of William Butler Yeats.
The couple will then head to the town of Mullaghmore - where Prince Charles’ great-uncle Earl Mountbatten was killed in an IRA attack - to meet members of the local community.
"This visit to the West of Ireland further cements the reconciliation work of recent decades, to which Prince Charles has made a strong contribution through his previous visits to Ireland,” Minister Flanagan explained.
“I look forward to joining the visit programme in Sligo, where this theme of peace and reconciliation will be highlighted in particular.”
He added: "This first official joint visit to Ireland by the Prince and the Duchess will highlight modern links between Britain and Ireland, in areas ranging from education and research to the marine and equine sectors. The visit will also celebrate the 150th anniversary of WB Yeats and many other cultural links in both Galway and Sligo.”
