Tánaiste welcomes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Museum of Literature Ireland

At a reception at the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) this evening, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Ireland. The Duke and Duchess are mid-way through their first visit to Ireland and a programme which includes political, cultural and community engagements in Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Galway.

MoLI is Ireland’s newest cultural institution and as part of their visit, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had the opportunity to view Copy No.1 of Ulysses, perhaps the world's most valuable modern literary artefact, and the pride of the Irish State's literary collections. The reception also offered an opportunity for the Duke of Cambridge to share reflections on the Ireland-UK relationship, and his experiences in Ireland over the last two days.

Those attending the reception at MoLI included political party leaders and elected representatives from across the political spectrum; younger representatives of the creative sector in Ireland; a group of younger civil servants from across several Government Departments; representatives of civil society; and of organisations building reconciliation and mutual understanding in communities across Northern Ireland.

The Tánaiste said:

“This is an important visit. We have of course welcomed members of the British royal family to Ireland before, including Prince William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, in 2011, a visit which represented a watershed moment for the Ireland-UK relationship.

“I very much welcome this visit by the Duke and Duchess, their first to Ireland, and hope this will be the first of many visits in the coming years.

“The Ireland-UK relationship is powered at its core by the hundreds of thousands of people who live, work and move seamlessly between these islands every single day, building and renewing connections between us. I am glad that their programme this week affords the Duke and Duchess an insight into the depth and intensity of those connections. And I am hopeful for the future of the Ireland-UK relationship, in particular when it is marked by the warmth, mutual understanding and respect that this week’s visit does so much to enhance.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Programme overview

Over three days in Ireland, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are undertaking engagements focussed on a number of different themes: reconciliation and reflection; youth; culture; and sustainability / the environment. The couple have met with the President, and the Taoiseach; and laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance. They also met with charitable organisations in Dublin and Kildare and visited a Teagasc farm and research facility. The final day of the visit will be spent in Galway engaging with the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture programme, and with community and sporting groups.

Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)

The location for the reception hosted by the Tánaiste is the Museum of Literature Ireland, a new landmark cultural institution in the heart of Ireland’s capital city. The museum celebrates Ireland’s internationally-renowned literary culture and heritage from the past to the present, inspiring the next generation to create, read and write. MoLI is a major partnership and creative alliance between University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland, supported by The Naughton Foundation and Fáilte Ireland. More information at moli.ie

As part of their visit to MoLI, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have the opportunity to view Copy No.1 of Ulysses, perhaps the world's most valuable modern literary artefact, and the pride of the Irish State's literary collections. This is the very first printed copy of the most influential novel of the 20th century, and it was handed to Joyce on his birthday (also the book’s publication date) on Feb 2nd, 1922. His patron, the English woman Harriet Shaw-Weaver, donated it to the National Library of Ireland in 1952.