QUEEN ELIZABETH II MAY SOON RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL INVITATION TO VISIT IRELAND FOR THE FIRST TIME, ACCORDING TO RENEWED SPECULATION ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL BUT HIGHLY LONG-EXPECTED TRIP. IRISH PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE IS REPORTED TO BE HOPEFUL THE FIRST STATE VISIT WOULD TAKE PLACE DURING HER TERM IN OFFICE, WHICH ENDS NEST YEAR. IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME A BRITISH MONARCH HAS SET FOOT IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC. A VISIT HAS BEEN MOOTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS THE ULSTER PEACE PROCESS BRINGS CLOSER TIES BETWEEN LONDON AND DUBLIN, LOWERING THE HURDLES. SUCH AN EVENT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCONCEIVABLE PRIOR TO THE IRA PLEDGING TO HAND OVER ITS VAST CATALOG OF WEAPONS; THE ORGANIZATION WHICH STANDS FOR A FREE IRELAND IS ACCUSED OF MURDERING THE QUEEN'S UNCLE, EARL MOUNTBATTEN, AND 18 BRITISH SOLDIERS IN TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS ON THE SAME DAY IN AUGUST 1979. BUCKINGHAM PALACE SAID IT 'NEVER COMMENTED ON POSSIBLE FUTURE STATE VISITS', AND A SOURCE ADDED THAT THE PALACE WAS NOT AWARE OF PLANS FOR A TRIP TO IRELAND. HOWEVER, A RECENT REPORT IN THE DAILY MAIL QUOTED AUTHOR MARY KENNY,WHO RECENTLY MET MCALEESE AT AN IRISH EMBASSY RECEPTION, SAYING: 'THEY BELIEVE PRIVATELY IT WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR. THE POLITICAL SITUATION HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED AND THE MOOD IS RIGHT.' 2011 WILL MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE VISIT BY THE QUEEN'S GRANDFATHER, KING GEORGE V, TO WHAT WAS THEN SOUTHERN IRELAND. IN DECEMBER, MCALEESE SPOKE OF HER HOPE THE QUEEN WILL FINALLY MAKE HER HISTORIC VISIT TO IRELAND NEXT YEAR, SHE SAID: 'I'D LIKE TO THINK IT COULD HAPPEN. I'VE LONG SINCE BEEN ON THE RECORD AS SAYING I THINK IT COULD BE ONE OF THE GREATEST SYMBOLS OF WHERE WE HAVE MOVED TO AS A COUNTRY IF WE HAD THAT GREAT RECONCILIATION WITH OUR NEIGHBOR'
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