Mary Gets Royal Audience In Dublin

There will be 'songs of praise' for the Queen's Dublin visit next week as Tesco check-out lady and X-factor star, Mary Byrne takes the stage.

Along with the Chapel Choir from Belfast's Methodist College she will perform at a reception in the British Embassy, alongside pop band Westlife, The Chieftains and the North's UTV Choir of the Year winners will sing out for the Royal couple and some 2,000 invited guests.

Among those guests will be PM David Cameron - who will also be making his first visit to the Irish Republic as UK Prime Minister.

Downing Street said yesterday that the trip would coincide with the Queen's state visit to the country - the first official tour of the republic by a British monarch.

Mr Cameron has described her visit as a symbol of the "strong partnership and friendship" between the two countries.

The PM is also expected to hold talks with new Taoiseach Enda Kenny on European issues, the make-up of the new Northern Ireland Assembly and the potential of developing the all-island economy.

However, Dubliners may not be quite so keen on the event as the Gardaí intends to close streets across large areas of Dublin city, impose a no-parking zone on more than 50 roads for almost a week and to conduct a stop-and-search operation on motorists and pedestrians as part of the security operation for the visit.

Also, during the four days of the Queen's visit, between May 17th and 20th, the N7, N4 and M50 will be completely closed at times and the Phoenix Park - including Dublin Zoo - will also close during the same periods.

The Zoo will not open at all on 17 May, but be open as normal on the 18, 19 and 20th although there will be no provision for car parking in or around Phoenix Park.

It will also continue to host its Africa Day celebrations on the 21st May, a spokeswoman has said.

Gardaí also plan to shut down Dublin's north and south quays and any adjacent bridges and streets for periods during the four-day period.

The Queen's is also to visit Cork and Tipperary and the visit to Dublin and Tipperary by US president Barack Obama is also set to cause widespread upheaval.

However, similar checks for Mr Obama's visit, on May 23rd and 24th are not being released until a later date due to security reasons.

(BMcC/GK)