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The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has welcomed the announcement
that Her Majesty, the Queen, is to visit the Republic of Ireland
later this year.
"We are pleased the Queen has been invited to the Irish
Republic and that she has accepted the invitation.
"It is an important and timely recognition of her role
as a Head of State in the United Kingdom.
"The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has members in nine
counties in the Republic of Ireland. They are keen to play
their part in civic society and this visit will give them
confidence that their traditions are being respected. The
visit will be a key element in fuller recognition of the British
heritage of many people who live in the Republic of Ireland.
"The opening a couple of years ago of the Boyne Battlefield
site was a clear endorsement of the history that helped form
the Orange Institution and the Irish Government has also given
financial backing to the Institution.
"Members of the Orange Institution want to feel part
of society in the Irish Republic and this visit will build
on other recent positive developments."
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