THE DUBLIN LORD Mayor Christy Burke said that he didn’t mean to cause anybody any offence when he suggested that the British royals should not attend the 1916 Rising commemoration events.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie the Mayor said that he had just come from a meeting with the British Ambassador and the Deputy Mayor of London.
He said that he explained his position to the men over tea at an early morning meeting in the Mansion House and that they completely understood.
“They accept my position and understand my comments.
No offence was intended by me. I explained that at the meeting this morning and if I offended anyone, I apologise.
Burke explained that he was just expressing the concerns that a lot of people had made to him:
A lot of citizens’ expressed concerns that if the royal family were sitting up front at the GPO for the commemorations, they would take the focus.
“This is our nations history and the relatives of those who died in the 1916 Rising should be up front”.
When asked if the British royals would be welcome to attend any of the celebrations to witness the event, Burke said “who am I to say who should and who shouldn’t”.
The Lord Mayor explained that he was meeting the families of 1916 personnel on Sunday to discuss plans for the commemoration.
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