Queen To Make Historic Irish Visit Next Year

England's Queen Elizabeth will be invited to visit Ireland before the end of next year.

When it happens, it will be the first visit by a sitting UK monarch to the Republic of Ireland since independence.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said there was now "no obstacle" to a visit, after meeting with the new British Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street.

"I would like to see it happening during the tenure of our own President", said Mr Cowen. Mary McAleese's term in office ends in the middle of November 2011.

A visit by the Queen would be followed by an official State visit to the UK by President McAleese.

Although President McAleese has met the Queen already - both in Buckingham Palace and in Belfast - this would be the first time her visit to the UK would have official State status.

An official visit by the Queen would signal a new era in relations between Ireland and the UK.

"I think that the importance of an exchange of visits says a lot about the modern bilateral relationship we now have," Mr Cowen added.

But opposition remains, and republicans are adopting a hard-line stance promising protests.

Sinn Fein T.D., Caoimhghin O'Caolain said the party opposed the visit of "the commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces".

"Until there is a complete withdrawal of the British military and the British administration from Ireland, and until there is justice and truth for victims of collusion, no official welcome should be accorded to any officers of the British Army of any rank," he said.

The visit, when it happens, will be a hugely symbolic. The last visit by a British Monarch was by George V in 1911.

There has been speculation for several years now that a visit was being planned. It's known that President McAleese has been a huge supporter of the idea.

With the devolution of policing and justice powers to the North this year, and the apology from Prime Minister David Cameron for the Bloody Sunday atrocities in the wake of the publication of the Saville Report, both governments believe the mood might now be right to organise the visit.

The trip would be greeted with indifference by the vast majority of Irish people, although its significance would be understood.

But it would raise significant security concerns, as those opposed to the idea will be determined to make their voices heard, through violent demonstrations if necessary.

The Queen is a regular visitor to the North. The most senior royal to visit the Republic was Prince Charles in 2002.