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Prince Charles meets Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams Prince Charles meets Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams
(about 1 hour later)
Prince Charles has met Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams at the start of his four-day visit to Ireland.Prince Charles has met Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams at the start of his four-day visit to Ireland.
Mr Adams was among a number of politicians to greet the prince at a reception at National University of Ireland Galway.Mr Adams was among a number of politicians to greet the prince at a reception at National University of Ireland Galway.
It was the first meeting in the Republic of Ireland between Sinn Féin's leadership and a Royal Family member.It was the first meeting in the Republic of Ireland between Sinn Féin's leadership and a Royal Family member.
Mr Adams and his colleague Martin McGuinness also had a private meeting with Prince Charles.Mr Adams and his colleague Martin McGuinness also had a private meeting with Prince Charles.
Speaking earlier, Mr Adams said he hoped the meeting would help the reconciliation process. That meeting took place after the handshake and was in a private room. It lasted between 15 and 20 minutes.
Asked if there was anything specific he wanted to say to the prince, Mr Adams said there was, "but I'll say it to him". Afterwards, Mr Adams said: "We did discuss the need for the entire process to move forward, particularly in regard to those who have suffered, those who have been bereaved.
"I don't have any expectations other than this being an engagement which I hope is symbolic and practical, and will assist that entire process," he said. He said the meeting "was a big thing for him to do and a big thing for us to do.
"There's a lot of hurt, a lot of grief, but we have to make sure all our steps are forward," he said. "We have a cause to represent and a future to carve out and that's what it's all about."
In a speech to the university afterwards, Prince Charles paid tribute to the "magic about Ireland that is totally unique". A protest involving about 40 people was held in Londonderry opposing Tuesday's meeting.
"Having first had the great joy of coming to Ireland 20 years ago now, for the first time in 1995, then again in 2002, each time I have been so overwhelmed and so deeply touched by the extraordinary kindness, the welcome, the enthusiasm and indeed the fun of being in Ireland," the prince said. It included some relatives of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday.
'Extraordinary kindness'
In a speech at the university, Prince Charles paid tribute to the "magic about Ireland that is totally unique".
"Having first had the great joy of coming to Ireland 20 years ago now, for the first time in 1995, then again in 2002, each time I have been so overwhelmed and so deeply touched by the extraordinary kindness, the welcome, the enthusiasm and indeed the fun of being in Ireland," the prince said.
He said of the Irish people: "You raise our spirits in so many ways."He said of the Irish people: "You raise our spirits in so many ways."
He also joked that he was "a little too old to be able to learn some of the steps from the Irish dancing routine" performed for the Royal couple after their arrival.He also joked that he was "a little too old to be able to learn some of the steps from the Irish dancing routine" performed for the Royal couple after their arrival.
In 2012, Sinn Féin's deputy leader Martin McGuinness met the Queen in Belfast in his role as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister.In 2012, Sinn Féin's deputy leader Martin McGuinness met the Queen in Belfast in his role as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister.
The handshake between the Queen and the former IRA commander, at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, was considered historic.The handshake between the Queen and the former IRA commander, at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, was considered historic.
However, he was not the first party member to meet with British royalty. However, he was not the first party member to meet British royalty.
In May 2011, Michael Browne, the Sinn Féin mayor of Cashel shook hands with the Queen in County Tipperary.In May 2011, Michael Browne, the Sinn Féin mayor of Cashel shook hands with the Queen in County Tipperary.
The meeting was not approved by the Sinn Féin leadership. The meeting had not been approved by the Sinn Féin leadership.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's meeting, Mr McGuinness said: "There's a responsibility on all of us to try to use these acts of reconciliation to encourage other people to join with us on the journey.
"As far as I can see, we are dealing with people like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles who like me wish to rise about old enmities and are not interested in creating obstacles for people on the route to peace."
During his own trip Charles, joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, will visit the village of Mullaghmore in County Sligo - where his great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten, was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979.During his own trip Charles, joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, will visit the village of Mullaghmore in County Sligo - where his great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten, was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979.
Analysis: Peter Hunt, royal correspondentAnalysis: Peter Hunt, royal correspondent
When the Queen shook hands with Martin McGuinness it was a historic moment for the relationship between Britain and Ireland.When the Queen shook hands with Martin McGuinness it was a historic moment for the relationship between Britain and Ireland.
The two countries' deep, once troubled, history passed another striking milestone when the Queen's eldest son - who is colonel-in-chief of the Parachute Regiment - met Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Féin, who has always denied being a member of the IRA.The two countries' deep, once troubled, history passed another striking milestone when the Queen's eldest son - who is colonel-in-chief of the Parachute Regiment - met Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Féin, who has always denied being a member of the IRA.
Republicans, now, are talking about reconciliation and healing.Republicans, now, are talking about reconciliation and healing.
Thirty years ago, when Prince Charles first came to Ireland, they were demanding he apologise for the killing by paratroopers of 14 civilians on Bloody Sunday.Thirty years ago, when Prince Charles first came to Ireland, they were demanding he apologise for the killing by paratroopers of 14 civilians on Bloody Sunday.
This week's visit to the Republic of Ireland will have political resonance and personal significance for Prince Charles. He'll travel to where Lord Mountbatten was killed by the IRA in 1979.This week's visit to the Republic of Ireland will have political resonance and personal significance for Prince Charles. He'll travel to where Lord Mountbatten was killed by the IRA in 1979.
At the time of his great uncle's murder the prince wrote that he had lost someone "infinitely special" in his life.At the time of his great uncle's murder the prince wrote that he had lost someone "infinitely special" in his life.
Read more from PeterRead more from Peter
However, the royal visit has been criticised by relatives of people shot dead by soldiers in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.However, the royal visit has been criticised by relatives of people shot dead by soldiers in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
John Teggart's father, Danny, was one of 10 people killed by soldiers in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 1971.John Teggart's father, Danny, was one of 10 people killed by soldiers in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 1971.
"Prince Charles represents the Parachute Regiment who, for many years, murdered innocent civilians in Belfast, including my father," he said."Prince Charles represents the Parachute Regiment who, for many years, murdered innocent civilians in Belfast, including my father," he said.
"In the space of a year, you would have had the Ballymurphy massacre, the Springhill massacre and Bloody Sunday."In the space of a year, you would have had the Ballymurphy massacre, the Springhill massacre and Bloody Sunday.
"I am totally opposed to him coming to Belfast and to the north in general.""I am totally opposed to him coming to Belfast and to the north in general."
The prince first visited the Republic of Ireland in 1995, and again in 2002, but this is the first official joint visit there with his wife.
He and the duchess will meet members of the community in Mullaghmore.
They will also attend a service of peace and reconciliation at St Columba's Church, in Drumcliffe, County Sligo, and when they travel north of the border on the second half of their trip, they will visit Northern Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation centre at Corrymeela, County Antrim.