Elizabeth II today will become the first British monarch to step on the independent Ireland. The queen, who is scheduled to arrive around noon local time (an hour in mainland Spain), will be received at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, the Irish Foreign Minister, Eamon Gilmore, before go to the official residence of Irish President Mary McAleese for the first official reception.
But beyond the pomp and courtesy of all state travel, noise and silence will also be traveling companions Isabel. The noise you want to get more extreme Republicans, who continue to see the Queen of England as the former oppressor and not the chief of a neighboring country with which Ireland shares vital interests.
That noise has so far had the form of bomb scares. One night on a bus in Co Kildare which had to be evacuated to allow police to fire the engine. Another, who was a false alarm this morning at Davitt Roas, next to a tram stop linking Dublin with the periphery. Yesterday, the British police closed several streets in central London after a threat was deemed credible because it was backed by one of the codes used by dissident republicans.
That noise can become screams today, as the Republicans who oppose the visit of Elizabeth II trying to crack with demonstrations and protests in Dublin. More than 4,000 agents but also accompany the sovereign silence: the silence of the streets closed off on his way to avoid any incident.
Up to 70 streets to be affected at one time or another during the visit, which coincides with the celebration tomorrow in Dublin in the European League final soccer match between two teams Portugal, Braga and Porto, where the Irish police want to avoid at all costs the physical contact between the guest and the public official.
Dublin has deployed more than 4,000 officers to protect the British sovereign, the biggest security operation ever launched in the Republic. If the Republican Sinn Féin is opposed to the presence of Isabel II because they still have not closed the wounds caused by the struggle for independence in the 20's and dissident Republicans are going even further and appeal to armed violence form of protest, the silent majority seems to think it is time to show maturity and move on.
After all, Elizabeth II is in Ireland because he has invited the Government of the Republic, because it decides to take a walk and go to horse racing in the Irish colony, as did George V in 1911, the last time until today that a British monarch trod the country. "For generations of Irish patriots, it was just a dream the very idea that a British monarch came here as guest of honor and not a condescending boss, as a friend and not as the embodiment of imperial power." After the luncheon with the president, Elizabeth II today honors fallen for the freedom of Ireland keeping a respectful minute of silence in the Garden of Remembrance.
Then visit the Trinity College before retiring to his home, Farmleigh, Phoenix Park where they stayed during their stay. Tomorrow will visit Croke Park, scene of the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1920, which killed 14 Irish civilians, 14 British soldiers and three militants Republicans. On Thursday, visit the National Stud in Kildare and Friday will travel to Cork, the second largest town. 
But beyond the pomp and courtesy of all state travel, noise and silence will also be traveling companions Isabel. The noise you want to get more extreme Republicans, who continue to see the Queen of England as the former oppressor and not the chief of a neighboring country with which Ireland shares vital interests.
That noise has so far had the form of bomb scares. One night on a bus in Co Kildare which had to be evacuated to allow police to fire the engine. Another, who was a false alarm this morning at Davitt Roas, next to a tram stop linking Dublin with the periphery. Yesterday, the British police closed several streets in central London after a threat was deemed credible because it was backed by one of the codes used by dissident republicans.
That noise can become screams today, as the Republicans who oppose the visit of Elizabeth II trying to crack with demonstrations and protests in Dublin. More than 4,000 agents but also accompany the sovereign silence: the silence of the streets closed off on his way to avoid any incident.
Up to 70 streets to be affected at one time or another during the visit, which coincides with the celebration tomorrow in Dublin in the European League final soccer match between two teams Portugal, Braga and Porto, where the Irish police want to avoid at all costs the physical contact between the guest and the public official.
Dublin has deployed more than 4,000 officers to protect the British sovereign, the biggest security operation ever launched in the Republic. If the Republican Sinn Féin is opposed to the presence of Isabel II because they still have not closed the wounds caused by the struggle for independence in the 20's and dissident Republicans are going even further and appeal to armed violence form of protest, the silent majority seems to think it is time to show maturity and move on.
After all, Elizabeth II is in Ireland because he has invited the Government of the Republic, because it decides to take a walk and go to horse racing in the Irish colony, as did George V in 1911, the last time until today that a British monarch trod the country. "For generations of Irish patriots, it was just a dream the very idea that a British monarch came here as guest of honor and not a condescending boss, as a friend and not as the embodiment of imperial power." After the luncheon with the president, Elizabeth II today honors fallen for the freedom of Ireland keeping a respectful minute of silence in the Garden of Remembrance.
Then visit the Trinity College before retiring to his home, Farmleigh, Phoenix Park where they stayed during their stay. Tomorrow will visit Croke Park, scene of the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1920, which killed 14 Irish civilians, 14 British soldiers and three militants Republicans. On Thursday, visit the National Stud in Kildare and Friday will travel to Cork, the second largest town.
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