Princess Anne To Visit Croke Park

Princess Anne will be the first member of the British Royal Family to visit Croke Park, and Mr Ahern said that she would be welcome, despite a protest announced by Sinn Féin.

The Princess is visiting the historic stadium for the RBS Six Nations game between Ireland and Scotland rugby and will watch from the VIP enclosure in the Hogan Stand.

"Ireland is a very welcoming country, known for extending its hand of friendship to visitors. Princess Anne is very welcome to Croke Park," said a spokesman for the Minister.

"She has very strong connections to Scottish rugby, and like all the other fans she will be welcome on such a wonderful occasion to the wonderful stadium of Croke Park."

The visit plays its part in continuing the peace process, coming as it does, almost a year to the day that the British national anthem was played before Ireland beat England in last year's Six Nations Tournament.

It will also be seen as another step towards a first official trip to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II, a visit which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has claimed is inevitable. Minister Ahern played down the significance of this particular trip though, saying,

"There has been a number of visits by members of the British royal family to Ireland. This is just one other visit."

Princess Anne has visited Ireland before when she came to see Scotland play at Lansdowne Road, Ireland Rugby's former stadium which is being demolished to make way for its new home, which will be completed in 2009.