On the eve of the historic visit about to take place, the Officers and Brethren of Dublin & Wicklow L.O.L. 1313 would like to extend their warmest welcome to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the Irish Republic. As members of one of Irelands oldest Fraternities, and one which values highly it’s British cultural identity, this visit is significant to us because not only does it mark a new chapter in this country’s existence but it also recognises the legitimacy of both traditions on this island. Not just in Northern Ireland but in the Republic of Ireland too where many in our community have spent generations feeling alienated.
We are positive that Her Majesty will be warmly welcomed with open arms by the vast majority of Irish society and we are certain that she will take away nothing but fond memories of the Irish people, the places she visits and the country itself when she departs from Cork Airport on Friday.
The only way forward on this island is for both traditions to be given the very same legitimacy as eachother, for both to feel right at home in this country we all call home. This visit marks a breaking with the old inward looking ideas of the past and fresh faced look ahead to the future!
God Save the Queen!
