Queen Elizabeth II speaks Irish during Ireland visit in 2011

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The Queen addressed then-President of Ireland Mary McAleese and other Irish politicians on her first royal visit there in Irish. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited in 2011, making the moment a historical one. The Queen left Ms McAleese impressed and amazed at her ability to address the audience in Irish. Her Majesty’s visit to Ireland over a decade ago was a historical moment for the Royal Family, as no member had set foot in the Republic in over a century.

Queen Elizabeth II addressed the audience in Irish, and after doing so a flurry of applause can be heard from the audience.

Audience members can be seen looking on in amazement at her ability to speak Irish.

Ms McAleese can be seen clapping and saying wow, in astonishment at the Queen’s speech.

After addressing the audience in Irish the Queen translated the message into English.

The Queen said: “Prince Philip and I are delighted to be here, and to experience at first-hand Ireland’s world-famous hospitality.”

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Sky correspondent Matthew Thomson said: “For me, this was one of the defining moments of the Queen’s reign. 2011. The first British monarch to visit Ireland in 100 years. And she did this.

“President, and friends,” she says, in Irish, to the visible astonishment of Mary McAleese.

“Still gives me goosebumps today.”

@RonObrien17 said: “Apparently President McAleese didn’t expect any words in Irish at all, which is why she went ‘wow’ when Her Majesty addressed her as ‘A Uachtaráin’ right at the start of the speech (and her pronunciation was perfect).”

One user @Rosspmccarthy said: “She broke normal state protocol to clink glasses immediately after, never normally done you just raise your glass and make eye contact, which is basically the same thing. McAleese instigated the clinking and you could hear ER2 say it was fun.”

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@Wigapedia said: “The impact of the Queen’s visit to Ireland, the places she chose to go and the things she decided to do, given can hardly be overstated. It was seismic. I doubt that many in GB recognised its historic significance at the time.”

@LizShanahan said: “I agree. With a few well-chosen words and in a few short days she endeared herself to the nation and hundreds of years of angst dissolved. A great leader. She will be missed.”

@ConorThomas6 said: “Mathew, you are so right. I believe that she felt this visit was her greatest event. She finally had a little agency and boy, did she use it! Much respect.”

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@ColinFI80111099 said: “I’m very conflicted about the monarchy but the Queen was an exceptional human being. Very sad at her passing.”

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