Queen Accepts Invitation For State Visit To Ireland

Buckingham Palace has announced that Britain's Queen Elizabeth has accepted an invitation to pay a State visit to Ireland this year.

It's expected to take place in May, and last three days.

However, details of the dates and places she will visit have not yet been released.

One highlight of the visit will be a speech delivered by the Queen at a black-tie dinner hosted by President McAleese at Dublin Castle.

The Queen, who will be accompanied on the trip by her husband The Duke of Edinburgh, will be the first by a British monarch since independence.

News of the visit was welcomed by all political parties in Ireland with the exception of Sinn Fein who called it "premature".

"The invitation symbolizes how far the relationship has come in recent years; the strength of our economic and political ties; and the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland," said British Ambassador in Ireland Julian King.

"The visit will provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate this, and build on the rich and varied links that exist across these islands.

"The UK's relationship with Ireland has never been closer, or more important. Our common bonds enable the UK and Ireland to work together as a strong, modern, forward-looking partnership focused on issues that matter to the British and Irish people, such as growth and jobs.

Despite a fraught history, the ties between Ireland and the UK have never been closer.

The UK is Ireland's largest trading partner, and the UK exports more to Ireland than to China, India, Brazil and Russia combined

It is estimated that as many as six million people living in the UK have an Irish grandparent and more than 100,000 people living in Ireland were born in the UK.