THE QUEEN IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HER FIRST STATE VISIT TO IRELAND AFTER DAVID CAMERON AD HIS IRISH COUNTERPART BRIAN COWEN AGREED THE MOVE IN PRINCIPLE. HISTORIC TENSIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND IRELAND HAVE MEANT THAT NO BRITISH MONARCH HAS SET FOOT IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC SINCE ITS CREATION ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO. BUT THE SUCCESS OF THE ULSTER PROCESS, THE IRS's LAYING DOWN OF ARMS AND THE CONCLUSION OF THE BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY HAVE REMOVED TE OBSTACLES TO A STATE VISIT. COWEN SAID HE WANTED THE OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE IRISH PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE LEAVES OFFICE IN NOVEMBER 2011. COWEN, WHO MET CAMERON FOR TALKS IN DOWNING STREET, SAID A STATE VISIT BY THE QUEEN, AND A RETURN TRIP TO BRITAIN BY AN IRISH PRESIDENT, WOULD BE PART OF THE NORMAL COURTESIES ENJOYED BY FRIENDLY, NEIGHBORING STATES. PRESIDENT MCALEESE, WHO IS KNOWN TO HAVE WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A BRIDGE-BUILDING VISIT, SUGGESTED THE WHEELS WERE FIRMLY IN MOTION FOR A SYMBOLIC EVENT NEXT YEAR. 'FOLLOWING TODAY'S MEETING BETWEEN THE TAOISEACH AND PRIME MINISTER CAMERON IN LONDON, PRESIDENT MCALEESE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PROSPECT OF A VISIT TO IRELAND BY QUEEN ELIZABETH IN THE NEAR FUTURE', SAID HER SPOKESPERSON. BUCKINGHAM PALACE SAID IT COULD NOT COMMENT ON THE QUEEN'S FUTURE PLANS.
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