Thursday, 19 May 2011

Irish State Dinner

A state dinner was held at the State Apartments of Dublin Castle on Wednesday, 18th May, in honour of Her Majesty The Queen. Her Excellency the Irish President proposed a Toast and Her Majesty reciprocated.

Guests from Northern Ireland at the banquet included:
  • Matt Baggott Esq CBE QPM, Chief Constable, NI Police
  • His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh
  • Tom Elliott Esq MLA & Mrs Elliott
  • David Ford Esq MLA & Mrs Ford
  • The Most Rev the Lord Archbishop of Armagh & Mrs Harper
  • William Hay Esq MLA & Mrs Hay
  • Mrs Margaret Ritchie MP MLA
  • Mr & Mrs Seamus Heaney
  • The Rt Hon Peter Robinson MLA and Mrs Robinson

The menu:


Cured salmon with Burren smoked salmon cream and lemon balm jelly, 
horseradish and wild watercress, 
Kilkenny organic cold pressed rapeseed oil

Rib of Slaney Valley Beef, 
ox cheek and tongue with smoked champ potato 
and fried spring cabbage, 
new season broad beans and 
carrots with pickled and wild garlic leaf

Carrageen set West Cork cream with Meath strawberries,
fresh yoghurt mousse,
soda bread sugar biscuits, 
Irish apple balsamic vinegar meringue

Irish Cheese Plate

Tea and Coffee

Château de Fieuzal, 2005, Graves Pessac-Léognan
Château Lynch-Bages, 1998, Pauillac
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous19 May 2011 at 18:16

    What a wonderful touching speech Her Majesty made at the State dinner.Her' cupla focal' at the beginning of her speech was very touching.Many folk could learn a lot from her diplomatic approach-though I detect some of her 'loyal subjects'are somewhat upset with Her Majesty's diplomacy!!Well done to Queen Elizabeth and President Mc Aleese.

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  2. Críostóir20 May 2011 at 09:27

    It was a pleasure to see Her Majesty embrace 'An Caighdeán Oifigiúil'. Let's hope her loyal subjects in Stormont learn by her example and promote this wonderful language to it's rightful place in our society.

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  3. Timothy Belmont20 May 2011 at 10:07

    I'm afraid I'm somewhat ignorant of the Irish language. HM knew 5 or 6 more words tham me!

    It was a gracious gesture, albeit harmless; though doubtless conceived by the Foreign Office/NIO.

    I have no difficulty with it at all. In France, HM would speak a few words of French.

    Personally I have found Latin quite helpful in understanding derivations.

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