Queen Elizabeth visits Catholic church, meets ex-IRA leader, in Northern Ireland

June 27, 2012

Queen Elizabeth II made two unprecedented gestures during a visit to Northern Ireland on June 26 and 27: stopping in a Catholic church and shaking hands with a former commander of the Irish Republican Army.

The Queen joined in an ecumenical service in Enniskillen to honor those killed in bombings 25 years ago, and met with parishioners at St. Michael’s church, on Tuesday. The following day, she met with Martin McGuinness, the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and head of the Sinn Fein party, who was once a top IRA leader.

 

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Further information:

• Queen makes first visit to Catholic church in Northern Ireland (Guardian)
• Queen Elizabeth's handshake with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness bridges centuries-old gulf (Belfast Telegraph)