Is No One Here?

Enda Kenny assured everyone that the majority of the Irish people would welcome the Queen of England on her first official visit to a former colony.

To increase the chances of that happening, the gardai will keep everyone off the streets.

Is no one here? the Queen may ask as she scans the scenery through bullet-proof glass.

North and South, known dissidents have been arrested. They'll be let go after herself departs. No charges filed. Just suspicion. Just cautionary.

The Queen will drop in to lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, but no one will be on the streets nearby. All gawkers have been banned.

Various loyalist leaders will be present, however. There have to be some smiling, happy faces around when Her Majesty is going about her official business.

Sinn Fein was invited. They won't be going. They're busy, they've said, with "alternative events". Call them if the Queen announces an end to partition of the island.


For the next four days, there'll be no caid mile failte from the local populace when England's royalty steps out of the car with the smoked glass windows. It's too dangerous to let anyone get that close.

The few Irish people who have jobs to go to will be inconvenienced by the road closures and detours that will be put in place. Businesses near itinerary stops have already lost customers due to safety precautions that kept motorists and pedestrians away from their doors in advance of the visit.

They are asked to smile through it all, and keep in mind that the world will be watching and that means potential tourists will be checking the place out and it's imperative that they find Ireland appealing enough to spend their money there.

So if the news cameras could please not show the angry protests against England and the visit? And don't interview the people who have to carry a passport and pay slip just to get into their place of work. They're liable to be a bit unpleasant.