Irish emigrants in UK - Prince Charles visit Irish embassy

Sceala Clann T.D. Location: Wicklow

Prince Charles giving a speech at the Irish embassy in London, England.
Quoting his own shock upon recently learning that ...some 6 million residents of England are of Irish emigrant bloodlines ..either directly or through Grandparents.
It was very sad to witness Prince Charles cheerfully stating this statistic ....that he was totally unaware ...shocked by the number of Irish emigrants in the UK.
Prince Charles made no mention of the many Irish who went before this Irish emigrant group ....who would surely make that 6 million Irish in England statistic quote .... only a extremely conservative estimate of the true and total number of UK citizens having a Irish emigrant heritage.
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I find it extraordinary that this event marks ...the first ever visit to the Irish embassy by a member of England's royal family.
Clearly, up until now ....the Irish emigrants to the UK have been taken somewhat for granted ...certainly undervalued.
The Irish are England's largest ethnic minority.
As many as 6 million people in the UK have an Irish grandfather or grandmother.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_migration_to_Great_Britain
That 6 million does not take into account any of the Irish from earlier times ...such as the many Irish who emigrated to parts of Britain during the great famine. There must be tens of millions of UK citizens who are descended or partially descended from those ..other Irish.
Irish emigrants have had a substantial impact in England .... and their achievements across the UK are incredible. Several CEO'S of leading UK business are Irish born. We can be certain that in many other areas of commerce and culture ...England is beholden in many ways to Irish emigrants. Ireland's loss was definitely England's gain.
The guest list of the recent Global Irish business forums ...provides but a indication of Ireland's loss. Global Irish forums Guest list

Press reports on the visit of Prince Charles of England visit to the Irish embassy
Prince Charles makes historic visit to Irish Embassy
Prince Charles has visited the Irish Embassy in London, making him the first member of the British Royal Family to do so.
The prince, joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, met leading figures from Irish society at a special reception.

Broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan described the visit as "significant".

The Queen has not set foot in the Republic of Ireland during her 57-year reign but is expected to make her first visit next year.

No British monarch has visited the country since it gained independence early in the last century, but other Royals have.

There has been much speculation about a possible trip, but Buckingham Palace has said it does not talk about the Queen's diary so far in advance and there has been no official invitation.
'Fantastic reception'

Sir Terry said the Queen would be welcomed in the Irish Republic.

"I've been in Ireland a lot this year doing a documentary for BBC television on Ireland and there is a lot of anticipation," he said.

"You've got to understand despite 700 years of oppression, starvation and immigration, the Irish still have an enormous affection for the English.
"This is an historic thing, the Queen will undoubtedly get a fantastic reception in Ireland."
The embassy event was hosted by the country's ambassador, Bobby McDonagh, and guests included Bob Geldof, former Formula One racing boss Eddie Jordan, presenter Eamonn Holmes and comic Patrick Kielty.

Speaking about the possibility of a Royal visit, Bob Geldof said it would be important for both Britain and Ireland: "The time is right now, it's a sign of maturity and getting a life for both of us."

the north of Ireland MPs and peers were also at the event in London's Belgravia.

The Reverend Ian Paisley, now Lord Bannside, also had a positive response to the rumoured visit, saying: "It's very important that the relationship between Ireland and the UK should be developed.

"We are part of the EU together and have many things in common and in a period of difficulty we should be co-operating with one another."

The guests were treated to Irish black pudding and cheeses, accompanied by half pints of Guinness.

George V was the last British monarch to visit Ireland in 1911 but, for much of the time since then, Anglo-Irish relations have been fraught.

The bitterness caused by the partition of Ireland a decade later and the use of the British army in the Troubles in the north of Ireland, strained relations between the UK and the Republic of Ireland for much of the 20th Century.

But the success of the peace process in the north of Ireland has greatly eased tensions between the two nations.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11722352?cid=dlvr.it

Charles in visit to Irish Embassy
The Prince of Wales has made an historic visit the Irish Embassy in London - the first time a member of the British Royal Family has visited the institution.
Charles, joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, met leading figures from Irish society at a special reception hosted by the country's ambassador, Bobby McDonagh.
Sir Terry Wogan described the visit as "significant", saying he believed it would lead to a widely anticipated trip by the Queen to the Emerald Isle..
(UKPA)
The Prince of Wales has visited the Irish Embassy in London, the first member of the British Royal Family to do so.
Prince Charles, joined by his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, met leading figures from Irish society at a special reception hosted by ambassador Bobby McDonagh.
Sir Terry Wogan described the visit as "significant", saying he believed it would lead to a trip by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland.
The broadcaster said: "In view of the fact that his mother, Her Majesty the Queen, will be visiting Ireland next year - or so I hear - this is significant.
"I've been in Ireland a lot this year doing a documentary for BBC television on Ireland and there is a lot of anticipation."
Among the guests were celebrities who have become household names in Britain, including Bob Geldof, former Formula One racing boss Eddie Jordan, and singer Val Doonican.
Northern Ireland MPs and peers were also at the event, held at the building in London's Belgravia.
Rumours of the royal visit have persisted for much of the year but Buckingham Palace has always said it does not talk about the Queen's diary so far in advance and that there has been no official invitation.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irish-embassy-hosts-british-royalty-15000230.html#ixzz14zp5JFop

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Irish emigrants in UK - Prince Charles visit Irish embassy